Gautam Gambhir - The Unsung Hero Of Indian Cricket

Left-handed batsman Gautam Gambhir definitely has contributed a lot in the history of Indian cricket that needs much more acknowledgement and appreciation. He is one of the few match-winners that India has produced who does not gets that much of credit while counting upon the other legends of the Indian cricket team. Gambhir played pivotal roles to help India lift the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup titles especially in the finals of both the mega events. He has also played many exceptional knocks in the longest format especially in some really challenging conditions. In this blog piece, we take a look at some of the excellent knocks played by Gautam Gambhir in the history of Indian cricket. 

Top 3 Greatest knocks played by Gautam Gambhir

1. Gautam Gambhir - 97 runs in the 2011 ODI World Cup final

While chasing a challenging target of 275 runs in 50 overs during the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, the Indian team suffered a massive batting collapse as the opening duo of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were dismissed by Lasith Malinga with just 31 runs on the scoreboard. Gautam Gambhir had already scored an impressive half-century during the successful run-chase against Australia in the quarter-final of the mega event. However, the pressure of playing for India during a ODI World Cup final 2011 especially in front of a jam-packed Wankhede crowd. After losing both the openers, Gambhir joined hands with Virat Kohli to bail out the Indian innings with a fine stand of 83 runs. 

Gambhir also stitched a remarkable match-winning partnership of 109 runs alongside skipper MS Dhoni that allowed India to dominate the middle-overs stage. The southpaw batsman contributed with a superlative knock of 97 runs that included as many as 9 boundaries. Gautam Gambhir's innings in that World Cup final is undoubtedly one of the greatest knocks in the history of both Indian and international cricket history. 

2. Gautam Gambhir - 75 runs in the 2007 T20 World Cup final

India vs Pakistan often referred to as the 'Mother of all battles' battled against each other in the finals of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Indian captain MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Both Gambhir and Virender Sehwag provided impressive starts for India during that mega event on regular basis, however, the latter was not available for that final against Pakistan due to injury. But it was once again the experienced Gambhir who kept batting very well at one end while wickets kept on tumbling at the other side. 

He played a sensational innings of 75 runs off 54 balls that consisted of 8 fours and 2 sixes to help India post a fighting total of 157 for 5 in their quota of 20 overs. In the second innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 158 runs as India clinched a dramtic last-ball thriller to win the 2007 World T20 Final and register a massive name for themselves in the cricket updates. 

3. Gautam Gambhir - 137 runs off 436 balls against New Zealand

The Indian team came into this 2nd Test in New Zealand having taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series as they registered a historic victory during the opening Test match in Hamilton. It is really difficult to leave out that staggering innings in Napier while talking about Gautam Gambhir stats. After batting first, New Zealand posted a mammoth total of 619 in their first innings. On the other hand, the visiting Indian team were bowled out for 305 runs after which New Zealand enforced the follow-on. While opening the batting, Gambhir once again took the centerstage to hold the Indian innings solidly from one end in some really challenging conditions for the batsmen. 

The left-hander played a fabulous innings of 137 runs off 436 balls that included as many as 18 boundaries. It was surely a match-defining knock which lasted for a total of 643 minutes, over a time span of two days that allowed India to draw the second Test which was dominated by the hosts to a great extent. Gambhir combined together with the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman to contribute crucial partnerships in the second innings. Despite being dismissed, he had ensured that India will be successful to draw the 2nd Test match against New Zealand. Towards the end, the pair of Yuvraj Singh and Laxman stayed unbeaten as India drew that Test match. Gambhir's 137-run innings was also one of the most courageous knocks in the Indian cricket history.