Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir Biography

Gautam Gambhir is an Indian Cricketer, born on October 14th 1981 in Delhi, India. Flamboyant left-handed attacking batsman represents Indian Cricket team internationally in all formats of the game. Former ICC Test number one batsman is renowned for his versatility, aggressiveness on the field, and by and large, “Unsung hero” for arguably the greatest two batting performances in the finals of ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC World Cup 2011. Nicknamed as Gauti, Gautam Gambhir is considered as a spin-specialist for his quick footing movements. Besides his batting talent, he is also a sharp sweep fielder assigned close-in.

Background

Delhi born Gautam Gambhir picked up the bat at the tender age of 10. In 2000, National Cricket Academy of Bangalore drafted him for the first intake. Since his first-class debut at the domestic level he performed consistently and averaged over 50. An attacking batsman, Gauti scored two consecutive double hundreds in 2002, which caught the attention of Indian Cricket team selectors for the opening slot in all formats.

Debut

Gautam Gambhir’s consistent performances in first-class cricket made him a strong contender for India’s tour to Bangladesh for TVS cup in 2003. Expectedly, he made his debut against Bangladesh in the opening match of the tri-series. In third Indian match of the cup he played match-winning inning of 71 runs but his overall performances were disappointing and relegated him out of the squad.

Gautam Gambhir made his comeback in November 2005 and scored his maiden International century against Sri Lanka.

Gautam Gambhir began his Test career against Australian Cricket team in last and final Test of the Gavaskar Border trophy in the worst fashion he could have imagined, scoring total of 4 runs in two innings.

Rise to Glory

Gautam Gambhir was integral part of the Indian team that won 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa. He finished the tournament as India’s highest run getter, with 207 runs including the most crucial 75 runs off 54 balls against arch-rivals Pakistan in the finale.

In 2008, left-handed batsman rose to prominence with his versatility in all three formats.

On his day, he was unplayable. He could bat more aggressively than Virender Sehwag, stick to the pitch as stiff as “The Wall” that would make Rahul Dravid proud, and build his innings as completely as Sachin Tendulkar.

Gautam Gambhir cemented his place in Test team with string of consistent high scoring performances in Gavaskar Border trophy and the Series against England. Despite missing the last test against Australia following his involvement in controversy with Shane Watson in elbowing, Gautam Gambhir was the highest run scorer. He made outstanding comeback against England in the series that followed and accumulated 1134 runs in merely 8 Tests in the calendar year.

2009 was Gautam Gambhir’s finest year as a international cricketer. He carried his magnificent form of earlier year to consummate it in 2009. India’s tour to New Zealand was his first major appearance overseas and the series that scripted history for Indian Cricket team would be remembered after Gautam Gambhir. In first series win over New Zealand in New Zealand in 41 years, Gautam Gambhir was the highest run scorer, with 445 runs including the breathtaking 137 in the second innings of Second Test in which he faced over 430 balls.

In the same year he was awarded as the ICC Best Test cricketer of the year and was ranked Number 1 in the ICC test rankings.

Low Points

Gautam Gambhir was dropped from the squad to 2007 ICC World Cup to accommodate Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar. To his personal account this was the lowest phase of his life and affected him badly.

Period between February 2010 November 2011 was the beginning of downfall for Gautam Gambhir. In this spell he could only score at the average of 29.33 which eventually saw him dropped from the team.

Indian Premier League Career

In the Inauguration season of Indian Premier League, the local boy Gautam Gambhir was the marquee signing for Delhi Daredevils. He was second highest scorer of the season with 534 runs to his name.

Following season, he was promoted to captaincy of Delhi Daredevils and accumulated over 1000 runs in two seasons before being transferred to Kolkata Knight Riders for $2.4 million, making him the player with highest earnings in the history of IPL.

He was appointed as the captain of the team and under his captaincy Kolkata Knight Riders won Indian Premier League twice in 2012 and 2014. As of 2017, Gautam Gambhir is the 4th highest run scorer of the tournament.

Captaincy

In 2010, Gautam Gambhir was bestowed with responsibility to lead Indian Cricket team that hosted New Zealand. India impressively won the series under Gauti’s guidance by 5-0 besides he also won the man of the series award. Gautam Gambhir has 100% record as a Indian Captain in his brief captaincy.

Records

Gautam Gambhir holds multiple records in an international career spanning over a decade and half. In January 2009, he became 4th player ever to score 5 Test hundreds in as many tests with swift 116 runs against Bangladesh, this feat has only one bettered holder i.e. Don Bradman with 6 centuries in as many tests.

Gautam Gambhir is also the only Indian cricketer to score 300 plus runs in four consecutive test series. In Test match against Bangladesh Gautam Gambhir equalled the record of the consecutive eleven innings with fifty plus runs which previously held by IVA Richards for decades.

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