India vs New Zealand: Gautam Gambhir thanks BCCI for another opportunity, says nothing beats playing for country

Gautam Gambhir was recalled into the Test squad when India toured England in 2014, but the left-hander failed to make the opportunity count as he accumulated just 25 runs from four innings.

India vs New Zealand: Gautam Gambhir thanks BCCI for another opportunity, says nothing beats playing for country

New Delhi: Discarded Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for giving him another opportunity to make a comeback into the Indian Test team. (India vs New Zealand: Full Coverage | Photos )

The veteran left-hander has been recalled into the Indian Test squad, as a replacement for Lokesh Rahul. Rahul suffered a right hamstring during the second innings of the opening match at Green Park in Kanpur.

Gambhir shared his excitement on social micro-blogging site Twitter where he said he felt like a debutant ahead of the second Test at Eden Gardens. (Gautam Gambhir recalled for India's remaining Tests against New Zealand, replaces injured KL Rahul)

Gambhir was dropped from the Test squad in December 2012, after India lost a four-match series 1-2 against Alastair Cook-England. Despite not being in the best of form, Gambhir hit 276 runs from six innings.

The selectors recalled him back into the squad when India toured England in 2014, but the left-hander failed to make the opportunity count as he accumulated just 25 runs from four innings. (Did captain Virat Kohli give green light to Gautam Gambhir's Test recall?)

Gambhir also thanked the Indian board and all the fans who had been praying for his comeback into the Indian team. 

Gambhir deserves to be playing for India in whites considering his sublime form in the Indian domestic circuit. He had made a statement with the bat in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy final where he played back-to-back formidable knocks.

Leading India Blue, the 34-year-old scored 356 runs from five innings at an impressive average of 71.20. It was difficult for the selectors to ignore him after he produced scores of 77, 90, 59, 94, 36 in five innings.

The selectors have also recalled uncapped spinner Jayant Yadav in the Test squad, in place of pacer Ishant Sharma, who is yet to recover from chikungunya.