The exact figures that the left-handed Delhi cricketer would reap from the deal with WSG, which has Sachin Tendulkar among its clients, were not mentioned in the statement issued by the company, but it’s understood to be worth in crores.

WSG CEO Venu Nair said Gambhir is the second Indian cricketer after champion batsman Tendulkar to be signed up by the group. “Gautam Gambhir – India’s opening batsman in all forms of the game currently adds a left hander dimension to the master right hander we already represent. The association is a long term one and is for Gautam’s worldwide representation rights,” Nair said in a media release.

“In the last year or so, with the advent of the IPL, players and their earnings are at the centre of all the media attention. Truth be told, the scale of the IPL notwithstanding, the real heavy hitters among the cricketers are still driven by endorsements and salaries constitute a relatively smaller portion of their income.”

“Recognizing this, and building upon the solid body of work we have done with Sachin Tendulkar, World Sport Group has in India added a second cricketer to its portfolio,” he said.

Johannesburg: West Indies skipper Floyd Reifer today hoped that presence of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar in the rival camp would inspire his fast bowlers to do well in tomorrow’s game against India in the ICC Champions Trophy at the Wanderers. “A lot of our boys have watched him on television and seen how good he is.”

It would be a challenge bowling to him and get him out. It would do any young bowler a world of good.

“I am sure they would come hard at him and the rest of the Indian team,” said Reifer whose team is out of the semifinal race, having lost the first two matches. West Indies, despite their rearguard batting against Australia, have largely caught eye with their fast bowling in this tournament and the skipper is happy with his pace resources.

“They are all different type of bowlers. Tonge is very tall, Roach is very fast, somebody who has bowled the fastest in this tournament.

Bernard is having a great tournament. Tino Best is quick as well.

We have a lot of talent and they all are looking to do well,” he said. Tonge has four wickets at an average of 20.00 apiece and his economy rate of 4.00 per over is exceptional.

Darren Sammy is not too far behind with an economy rate of 4.82. David Bernard (5.35) is not expensive either.