Gambhir to consult eye specialist on blurred vision

The left-hander had suffered a concussion when he slammed the back of his head on the ground in an attempt to take a catch during The Oval Test. Gambhir didn’t open in both the innings of the match and batted gingerly as India tried to avoid a whitewash. He has already missed India’s two practice games and remains doubtful for the T20 international against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

“He (Gambhir) said he could not see the ball at times when it came at full speed,” said Indian team manager Shivlal Yadav. “He will be taken to an eye specialist in Manchester on Tuesday. Based on what the specialist says we will have to take the next step. As of now it seems difficult,” Yadav added.

The Delhi player had a 20-minute session and it is learnt that he is still feeling hazy and was hurting in his head at every impact. The 29-year-old hasn’t had any training – warm-up football and fielding drills – with the team since the last Test and has largely restricted himself to indoor batting stints. It’s also emerged that his injury was exacerbated after he was hit on his head by a Stuart Broad bouncer in the second innings of the final Test. Though MRI scans revealed no major damage, the 29-year-old is still reeling from the effects of the impact.

Meanwhile, the Indian team on Monday kept the media out of bounds, apparently at the instructions of coach Duncan Fletcher. Indian reporters following the team here had problems even entering the ground as security people reluctantly let them in but the bigger surprise came when the scribes were stopped from entering the walled ‘nets’ area.

“We have instructions from the Indian team not to allow the media inside,” said a member of the security staff. “The ECB badge (accreditation pass) doesn’t mean much if the team says they don’t want you near them.” Strangely, team manager Shivlal Yadav said the team had no problems whatsoever and it was instead the police which wanted the media to be barred due to security reasons.

Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane and Jharkhand pacer Varun Aaron -- the replacements for Virender Sehwag and Ishant Sharma -- joined the side on Saturday.