Gautam Gambhir !!!

[VinodKumar's]

Gautam Gambhir


At the end of what promises to be a successful career, the 2007-08 season could well be noted as the turning point in Gautam Gambhir's career. When changes were called for in the wake of a disastrous 2007 World Cup, Gambhir found himself back in favour in the shorter versions. The ICC World Twenty20 greatly enhanced his reputation on the global stage, as Gambhir notched up runs consistently, scoring three half-centuries, including a composed 75 in a high-pressure final against Pakistan. His ability to soak up pressure, run hard between the wickets, and mould his approach according to the team needs were further in evidence during the triangular CB Series in Australia, where he scored two high-quality centuries, showing along the way that he had worked on his flaws: the technique was noticeably tighter around off, and he was no longer such an obvious lbw candidate. He was also instrumental in guiding Delhi to their first Ranji Trophy title in 16 years, scoring a hundred in the final as captain, and was among the leading run-scorers in the IPL.

Gambhir's second coming at the international level has been a brilliant blessing for India. In his earlier avatar Gambhir was classified as a batsman who made the cut in the limited-overs format due to his ability to improvise, but one who lacked the technique to succeed in Test cricket. The year 2008 changed all that. Gambhir transformed his limited-overs success into cricket's traditional form, with Test runs in difficult circumstances against tough opponents both home and away.

Some of those runs were scored with India in a strong position and pressing for a win, while others came in backs-to-the-walls situations that required him to bat long periods. He managed both superbly. On India's successful tour of New Zealand in 2009 Gambhir removed some question marks over his temperament and batting outside the subcontinent. He scored a series-topping 445 runs on the tour and his contributions were massive - Gambhir set up a win in Hamilton, saved a match that looked lost in Napier, and batted New Zealand out in Wellington - the three main jobs an opener is expected to do. His feats since 2008 helped him bag the Arjuna Award.

[VinodKumar's]

Full name Gautam Gambhir

Born October 14, 1981, Delhi

Major teams India, Delhi, Delhi Daredevils, India Red, Indian Board President's XI, Rajasthan Cricket Association President's XI

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Legbreak


Statistics -

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/28763.html

[VinodKumar's]

[html:b3282a100a]<img src=http://www.thecricfanclub.com/uploads_admin/wallpaper/timb/92.jpg>[/html:b3282a100a]

[VinodKumar's]

- Followers -

Sourav (http://www.mayyam.com/hub/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1032)

Vinod (http://www.mayyam.com/hub/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=102136)

Dinesh (http://www.mayyam.com/hub/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=101581)

Master (http://www.mayyam.com/hub/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=20215)

Aalavanthan (http://www.mayyam.com/hub/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=11225)

AjithFederrer (http://www.mayyam.com/hub/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1084)

* - Hiring :lol: Please put your name in the thread I will add it to the list.

[VinodKumar's]

- Videos -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIjpI-BHLFI :smokesmirk:

[VinodKumar's]

- reserved -

[Dinesh84]

Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gautam-Gambhir/13899878137)

Orkut Page (http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=49250512)

[html:71db6db7d9]<img src=http://im.rediff.com/cricket/2009/oct/02sld2.jpg>[/html:71db6db7d9]

[Sourav]

:clap: :thumbsup: viru-vin sishyan-na summava? :smokesmirk:

[Kalyasi]

Kood Initiative....

[Sourav]

getthu title vaikkanumae! any suggestions? :think:

[VinodKumar's]

Yes Yaarvathu suggest pannunga ... remba neram think panni onnum kedaikala :oops:

[VinodKumar's]

Gautam Gambhir basks in golden spell

http://www.cricinfo.com/bdeshvind2010/content/current/story/445198.html

[HonestRaj]

getthu title vaikkanumae! any suggestions? :think:

Getthu Gautham Gambhir ..... GGG :cool:

[Aalavanthan]

Thalai Nagarin Dhava Pudhalvan Gouthaman :lol:

[Sourav]

Gambhir - Mr.Consistent!
ipdi than potturukkanga sila orkut comm. la.

[HonestRaj]

Gambhir - Mr.Consistent!
ipdi than potturukkanga sila orkut comm. la.

innum indha kanakkedukkura velaithan parthukittirukkiya :lol2:

[Sourav]

:x yethavathu title theruthannu summa search panni paarthen,

[VinodKumar's]

Gambhir - Mr.Consistent!
ipdi than potturukkanga sila orkut comm. la.

:x thread ah delete pannitu poiruvaen :lol:

athellam THE WALL kku irruka neriya per la onnu .. :D

[littlemaster1982]

Another admirer here :wave:

[Sourav]

Another admirer here :wave::cool2: inga viru, yuvi, dhoni ellorukum kooda anti-fans irukkanga, but, noone opposes gauti i think... :thumbsup:
Vinod, nee ellor name-iyum kooda add pannidalaam... :P

[Plum]

"Thambi Kavudham"-nu oru peyar already vazhakkula irukkE?

Gautam Gambhir-ai support paNNanumnu aasai neriaya varudhu aanA, naan support paNNi, avan fail aagi, sodhappiduvAnOnu nenaikkum bOdhu, vandha support ninnu pOyidudhu :lol:

[Aalavanthan]

People say (idhaan safe bet), that Goutham is the only current batsman (Master ellam vidhivilaku) who is capable of playing both spin and pace.. paiyan chinna vayasunaala over murukaa irukkaan.. still remembering that incident with Shame Watson .. and the following bans.

But a great find.. Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer,Vijay Gandhi ivanga ellaraiyum try panni maathi maathi kadaisiyila oru great opener kedaichhiruku..

Gounder: ivanga ellarukum ini test sidela chance "ooooooooo"

[ajithfederer]

+1.

But seriously I didn't like the elbowing incident in the last oz tour to India. He was in fine form then with a double hundred and missed an important match. With that kind of form your team depends on you and you make sure you behave well.

But since that incident he is :thumbsup:.

Another admirer here :wave:

[Dinesh84]

Deputy DareDevil

[VinodKumar's]

Gambhir first Indian to score 5 in 5

Gautam Gambhir, while scoring 116 off 129 balls in India's second innings in the first Test against Bangladesh, became the only Indian cricketer to have scored centuries in 5 consecutive Test matches. The talented left-hander is now one hundred shy of equalling the record for hundreds in the most consecutive Tests. Batting legend Sir Donald Bradman has achieved this feat, having scored centuries in six consecutive Tests.

Gautam Gambhir is at par with Jacques Kallis and Mohammad Yousuf who have also scored hundreds in five consecutive Tests.

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/23405/Gambhir-first-Indian-to-score-5-in-5

:clap: :clap: :clap:

[steveaustin]

inga viru, yuvi, dhoni ellorukum kooda anti-fans irukkanga, but, noone opposes gauti i think... :thumbsup:


Till date, he is the only top order Indian batsman who never attracted me (qualitatively) at any point of time. I don't know about future. He is the boring cricketer in India in the recent times. There is no free flow in his shot making abilities. He looks like many of the olden day right handers from Australia. The way he plays, I think he lacks left hander's natural grace and elegance. :|

Quantitatively, he is greater than any other player in the Indian Team even in the world, as of now. Anyway, I have to appreciate his ability to make tons and tons of runs.

[ajithfederer]

Number Crunching

76.92

Gautam Gambhir's average in Tests since the beginning of 2008, which is the highest among batsmen who've scored at least 1000 runs during this period. Gambhir has scored exactly 2000 runs, with eight centuries and seven fifties.

[Sourav]

FROM PRODIGIES TO LEGENDS – Part I

GAUTAM GAMBHIR (INDIA) – He might be 28 as he moves into the new decade. But, Gambhir’s performances over the past year or two have taken him to unexpected heights. Of all those young Indian batsmen who’ve come in the scene recently, Gautam Gambhir has been the lone shining star. His rise has left many of his peers behind.

Gambhir’s biggest asset is the amazing consistency he shows in all formats. He can bat for two days and save a test match; score a quick fifty in a T20 and at the same time make a huge century in an ODI. All this, Gambhir can conjure up in just about a fortnight’s time. This very talent makes him the ideal batsman for this decade. Being flexible, as I said before, is one of the most important characteristic for the new age batsman.

His batting style has got him lots of appreciations and compliments. One of the best he would cherish is Sehwag calling him “The New Wall” of India.

Gambhir will hold the torch held high for India in the next 5-6 years. He still has about 9-10 years of international cricket left in him.

Cometh 2019, Gauti will be a legend among mortals.[tscii:0e525c8695][/tscii:0e525c8695]

http://www.sportskeeda.com/2010/01/29/from-prodigies-to-legends-part-i/

[littlemaster1982]

'I didn't ever want to come out of that zone' (http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/425433.html)

How a man given to shouldering bowlers and mouthing off at them buckled down to play a knock of monk-like discipline

March 2009 in Napier (http://www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/386496.html) is a time in life Gautam Gambhir happily transports himself back to. There is an unmistakable glee in his eyes when he talks about his match-saving 643-minute marathon, for just 137 runs. No man has batted longer in the second innings in 10 years. It is the fifth-longest effort in second innings in all Test cricket. By his own admission an impulsive man, Gambhir looks back at the three days of his most uncharacteristic innings.



Do you think that was the best you played?

I think that's the best I have played because of my concentration, because I had to play out of my skin. Being an impatient guy, even off the field, I would always look to score runs and score them quickly. Sometimes I panic if runs are not coming. So I had to play out of my skin, out of my comfort zone. It was a big achievement for me.

Do you remember exactly how many minutes and balls?

Ten hours and some minutes. Balls I don't remember.

You have played long innings before. You have scored double-centuries. But you score double-centuries in, say, eight hours, sometimes less, here you played 11 hours for just 137. Did you think you could play that kind of innings?

I had it in me. It used to hurt me that people thought I didn't have the technique and the temperament to play Test cricket. Scoring three double-hundreds in first-class cricket, obviously I had something in me.

What was the feeling when you went in to bat the second time, after making 16 in the first innings?

It was very difficult, batting two-and-a-half days to save the Test. I always thought it was a matter of taking it one hour at a time. Taking it one drinks break at a time, and then playing till the next break. If I had thought that I had to bat two-and-a-half days, I would never have been able to do it.

What was the longest innings you had played till then?

Must have batted for one-and-a-half days, that's about it.

Going back: day three, stumps, Viru was out already. What were you thinking in the evening? What did you do that evening?

I remember, I called up a very close friend and told him I had a very strong gut feeling that I was going to bat for two days. It was very instinctive. I was batting on 20-something. I got to the room and just called him up. He said, "It's not going to be easy." I said, "I know, but somehow I am getting the feeling that I will be able to save this Test match." Then it just happened.

The score moved slowly. In a normal innings you have milestones - say, 25 runs, 50 runs - where you switch off and come back on. What was it here? Runs couldn't have been, because you were scoring 12 runs an hour.
If I had said I had to bat through two-and-a-half days, it wouldn't be possible. As I said, I broke it down to drinks breaks and then session breaks. At one point I was taking it five overs at a time. Five overs, then five overs, then drinks would come. So I had to break it up into very, very small goals. That's how it worked.

During the long partnerships with Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, did you talk much?

There was a time when I was batting with Sachin when I scored one run in about an hour. I got stuck for one-and-a-half hours. I wasn't even in the zone of scoring runs. I wasn't looking to score runs. I don't know why. So I told Sachin, "First of all, I have got stuck. For one hour I haven't scored a run. On top of that, I am not even looking to score runs. It's a completely new place for me to be in." He said, "Sometimes what you are doing for the team is much more important than your personal goals. I think this innings will take you to another level. Don't think about your individual score, just think about the team. Maybe this innings will be the best you have played for India, and this could be the best anybody can play." That helped me concentrate harder and keep myself in the zone. Otherwise I was on the verge of losing concentration and trying to break the shackles.

When you were playing like that, do you realise that you have not scored many runs and if I you were to get out in three hours you would have scored only 40, and the team would not be in a much better position?

But we were looking to save the Test, not win it. If we were looking to win it would have been a crime.

But still, if you are scoring faster you know you have at least erased the deficit. This way, you are taking a big risk, so to speak

We were so much behind that it was immaterial. And time was equally important. Reducing the deficit was important, but I decided time was more important.

Before lunch on the fourth day, you stepped out and hit Daniel Vettori over the infield twice in one over. Was that a release of tension? Because they had bowled a couple good overs leading up to that.

I got to 50 by stepping out and hitting Vettori. I also remember I stepped out and hit him over midwicket when I was on 98. I was getting nervous, and that milestone was distracting me from the main goal. So I wanted to get it out of the way as soon as possible.

When you start out on such an innings, you say, "Okay, let's see. Then you have played five or six hours and you think, "Wow, it's possible." Does that mean more pressure?

Exactly. I thought, "Okay, let's see." After four or five hours, you think, "Look I am set, I can do it, I have done half of it." You get more nervous because it's a possibility, but with me, it made me more determined.

They must have tried to lure you. Attacking fields. Flighted deliveries.

There were times with five fielders around me. There was a lot of temptation, but I was playing completely out of my skin.

Did they try to sledge you?

No they didn't. New Zealand is one team who never sledge.

Did you feel physically tired? Did that affect you at any time?

After I got out, I was physically exhausted. When I was playing, I didn't feel a thing. I was so much into it.

Anxiety in the 90s?

Oh, in the 90s I am usually very anxious. I just wanted to cross that milestone. And also stumps was approaching. I needed to just get it out of the way.

What did Sachin tell you after you reached your hundred?

The best moment was when he hugged me. It is the best moment of my career.

How did you spend the fourth evening?

I was so exhausted after the end of the day's play, I went back, ate and slept. The only thing was the next day.

Could you get sleep?

What happens is, when you are very tired you don't sleep well. I managed to sleep, but I got up very early. The only thought was how I had to bat the whole day.

Did you follow any routines?

I was listening to one song, and just kept listening to it on loop.

Throwdowns, nets?

I don't do throwdowns. Just hit a couple of balls. If I am middling them, it's fine.

Fifth morning. Did something inside you say, "Okay it's easy to hit a quick 50, we are almost there"?

Never. The only thought was that I had to bat as long as I could.

What was your favourite phase of the innings?

I remember I was in that zone. I was batting with Laxman and I didn't utter a word. I never wanted to come out of that zone. I was so much into that concentration. It was so high when Sachin got out on the fifth day and when Laxman batted with me, for one and a half hours I didn't say anything. He said, "Why aren't you speaking?" I said, "I am in that zone, I am fully concentrating on the ball. I don't want to come out."

Was that the best you have felt on a cricket field?

Absolutely. There was only one thing in my mind and that was the ball.

Viru called you the best opener since Gavaskar.

Had anyone else said that I wouldn't have taken it seriously. But coming from him... he must have seen something. It matters. It made me happy.

What was the first thing you did after getting out?

I didn't take off my pads for 45 minutes. I don't know, I was so much into it I just couldn't take off my pads. And after I took the pads off, I was absolutely gone.

How did you celebrate that day?

I was very happy. Laxman came up to me and told me it was the best Test innings he had ever seen. Coming from these greats it makes you very happy.

How do you look back at those three days?

If someone asks me whether I can do that again in my life, it's an absolute no. It just happens. That zone just happens. Anybody would say no.
______________________________

Really a good interview :thumbsup:

[Sourav]

Judge players on Test, ODI form, not T20s
By Kadambari Murali Wade, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/147146041

July 08--On Wednesday night, Gautam Gambhir was waiting to cheer the Germans in their World Cup semifinal against Spain. On Friday, last season's Test cricketer of the year and India's top scorer at last month's Asia Cup, leaves with the team for Colombo and the start of a long, uninterrupted season for India. Here, he takes time off to talk cricket.

The Asia Cup must've been a relief after the last few months and being out of form? Yes but it's difficult to maintain the momentum I had for over a year and something had to give. I would have liked to have not had a dip in form, but these things happen, happen to any player. It was just unfortunate that it happened during the Tweny20 World Cup.

Your critics went back to an old issue -- your playing against the short-pitched delivery, saying you had been found out by the opposition... It's unfortunate that in India, you tend to be judged on your performance in Twenty20 cricket. It's quite ridiculous. In the T20 World Cup, if someone bowled short, you had no choice but to take them on. In Tests or ODIs, you have time duck, to think, out-think the opposition, play your game. I've always maintained that people should judge form on the basis of performances in Tests and ODIs, not T20s.

On the World T20, where did it all go wrong? Fatigue? I'm not going to make any excuses. We didn't click as a team, it's as simple as that. And though some individuals were picked out to take the slack, that wasn't fair, the loss was our collective responsibility and collective failure. You win together and you lose together. There was no lack of commitment or effort on the part of anyone in the team. I'd also like to point out that more or less the same team that was being called 'divided' and said to be 'full of differences' a couple of months ago, won the Asia Cup. That's cricket.

But the rest, the break from cricket, did help... Yes, definitely. The break was good, very good. Even with the best intent, when you're on the road for months on end, playing game after game in different formats, traveling without a break, it can be mental torture. So the break that some of us got after the World T20 was very important. It really helped me come back refreshed, sharper, hungry for runs. I moved better during the Asia Cup last month, felt better, played better.

It's another long season from now till the World Cup -- Lanka, the tri-series, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. (Laughs) It's not going to be easy! But that's international cricket for you, so we'll take the breaks where we get them. From now on though, till the World Cup, it's all focus.

You think India can win the World Cup? Honestly, that's a tough one to predict. But we have the strength and the ability. We have tremendous firepower in the batting department and the bowling. We're playing in the subcontinent, at home. So yes, we have what it takes.

What would you say are Dhoni's strengths as skipper? I'm a strong believer in the saying that a captain is only as good as his side. I've been captain of the Daredevils and Delhi and found that if you give your players the confidence that you believe in them, they'll deliver for you. Dhoni, I think, has led the side well, taken decisions that ultimately went in his favour but it's not the captain who wins the games, it's the team.

Back on you, are you planning on just batting or also working on your bowling? I am looking at working on my bowling too. If you're there as a pure batsman, then if you get out cheaply, the game's over for you. But if you can also bowl five-six overs in an ODI, pick up a couple of wickets, help the team, it's good. As a leg-spinner then, you give the team some options and for a skipper, that always helps.

Like Sehwag does... Was it tough not having him around? It did play on my mind, his not being there. We know each others' games and needs so well and it's always great fun batting to open with Sehwag. It also takes time to understand someone else's batting and change your role to adapt to theirs and there's not always that time.

There was a time when criticism upset you, made you insecure. How did this round of criticism feel? Better! One of the things I have learnt in the last couple of years is that people don't really see the big picture, just live in the moment. I had one bad tournament, the T20 World Cup and that made people forget the two years before. Suddenly, they said I couldn't face short-pitched bowling, and conveniently forgot that if I couldn't, I wouldn't have scored international runs over two years. But I've learnt to ignore most of what is said. What matters to me is my team, my team-mates, what they say and think and feel. I give my 100 per cent and they know that. [tscii:f44995d940][/tscii:f44995d940]

[Sourav]

http://sify.com/news/gautam-gambhir-receives-award-from-president-news-national-kjwvOfidcej.html
Gautam Gambhir receives award from President
2010-09-22 21:50:00


Kolkata, Sep 22 (IANS) India's star cricketer Gautam Gambhir Wednesday received the 'Managing India' award for the most promising sportsman of the year from President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

The award has been instituted by the All India Management Association.

Dressed in a blue suit, Gambhir flew down to the city for the programme at a five-star hotel.

Despite desperately chasing the celebrated opener, the media failed to elicit any comment from him. :clap:

[Sourav]

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101122/jsp/sports/story_13205694.jsp

[vanchi]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-new-zealand-2010/content/image/490444.html?object=28763

mods, pl enable this pic. thanks.

[vanchi]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-new-zealand-2010/content/current/story/490447.html


Captaincy hasn't changed my batting' - Gambhir

ESPNcricinfo staff

December 4, 2010


Gautam Gambhir has said being captain for India's ODI series against New Zealand has not given him any extra motivation to perform with the bat. "As a player or a captain I have always given 100%. Captaincy has not changed my batting," he said. "I am striking the ball well and would have batted like this under any captain."


Gambhir scored his second successive unbeaten century, in the third ODI in Vadodara on Saturday, to give India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.


In Saturday's match, India's bowlers restricted New Zealand to 224 in their fifty overs after putting them into bat. Gambhir admitted it was an advantage bowling first on the Vadodara wicket but praised his bowlers for setting up the win. "When there is dew in Baroda it does a bit in the morning; it's red soil. It was a good toss to win but it was a great effort from our bowlers to restrict them to 225-odd.


"[Zaheer Khan] is the best left-arm fast bowler in the world now. [Ravichandran] Ashwin has a lot of variety and can bowl well during Power Plays and the slog overs. If he keeps doing that he will be a big asset to the team. Munaf [Patel] bowled great at first change. It's tough to get figures of 1 for 28 in 10 overs on a subcontinent wicket. Yusuf [Pathan] contributed with the ball, as well."


Gambhir kept a slip in almost throughout the New Zealand innings and said the aggressive tactics were prompted by New Zealand's depth in batting. "There was still a bit of dampness out there and we wanted to take wickets as New Zealand bat deep down with Kyle Mills coming in at number 10."


With Ravindra Jadeja in the side for the third ODI, Yuvraj Singh was not called upon to bowl any overs, despite having taken three wickets in the first game in Guwahati. It is still uncertain whether India will play seven batsmen or an allrounder in the 2011 World Cup, and Yuvraj's bowling could be a deciding factor in the balance of the team. Gambhir said Yuvraj was still an important part of the ODI setup. "Yuvi is an experienced player and an integral part of the side. He has been a great help to me as captain."


With several senior players rested, the series against New Zealand is an opportunity for the India selectors to look at some of the fringe players ahead of the 2011 World Cup, and Gambhir welcomed the competition. "It's good to have competitions for various places. If the selectors have a headache in this aspect, it's a very good sign for Indian cricket," he said. He, however, hinted India may not experiment too much with the side for the last two ODIs despite the series being won. "We should try and put our best team on the park as it is an international game and we are playing a quality side."

[vanchi]

after some poor form, gauti is back. The way he charges even to pacebowlers is a sight to watch.

superb innings back to back and staying till the end.

:notworthy: :notworthy: :happydance:

//thanga thalaivan, gauti mela vechrukira nambikkai vin pogala.//

[vanchi]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-new-zealand-2010/content/image/490444.html?object=28763

mods, pl enable this pic. thanks.

Requested for enbling this pic.

[littlemaster1982]

[html:036466ad74]http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/125500/125572.jpg[/html:036466ad74]

[Sourav]

Gautam Gambhir once again was determination personified and the manner in which he has made adjustments to his game has been exceptional - Sunil Gavaskar,

http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/126700/126784.jpg


Gambhir defies pain to grind down South Africa

For an attacking batsman, Gautam Gambhir shows a surprisingly liking for situations where dour defending is the need of the hour

Sidharth Monga at Newlands

January 6, 2011

Gautam Gambhir loves these situations; situations which attacking batsmen such as himself should find difficult in theory. A match to save, no thought of scoring runs, no release of pressure through boundaries, just grinding the opposition down, and boring the hell out of them. It is not as easy to do as it is to say. Not when your injured hand has combined with a fresh hit to your elbow to put you out of cricket for a few weeks. Not when you decide to come out to bat one last time against Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel on an uneven pitch, with that crazy swing from the first innings still on your mind. Not when the third ball you face hits you on the same aching elbow that needed icing for a whole day.

During an equally important innings he played in Napier in 2008-09, where he batted longer in terms of time (close to 11 hours), but faced a lesser challenge from the track and the bowlers - VVS Laxman noticed that Gambhir hadn't said a word for a very, very long time. Gambhir told Laxman he didn't want to come out of the zone he was in. That innings, he went at 12 runs an hour. Today, as he went at 14 runs to the hour. He had found a similar zone.

Gambhir repelled everything the fast bowlers threw at him. There were judicious leaves either on line or length, or both. When the bouncers were at him, he rode the bounce well. When the leg gully came in, he managed to fend the ball down into the ground. When Steyn went round the wicket and looked for a repeat of the dismissal from the second innings in Centurion, he managed to clip him for four.

Paul Harris provided him with a challenge, even though Gambhir is one of the best players and dominators of spin in the world, because of the rough outside the left-hand batsman's off stump. When Harris bowled from the Kelvin Grove End, the ball kicked and turned and snarled at him, but Gambhir swallowed his pride and just kept kicking away balls pitched in the rough. Some of them reared up towards his hurt elbow, some even higher, but he resisted the urge for release. Balls and minutes went by, and Gambhir looked more and more entrenched.

The only time he got anxious to score runs wasn't a surprise. He gets a little fidgety in the 40s and the 90s, wanting to reach the landmark as quickly as possible. Even in Napier, where he put the rest of the world out of his head like a monk, he got to his fifty and his hundred by steeping out to a spinner and lofting him over the infield. He got more enterprising in the 40s again, punching Steyn down the ground for four, and driving him over point with what was not a controlled shot. He then played and missed one, charged at Harris again, and was not steady until he had square-cut Steyn to bring up his 11th fifty-plus score in the 30 attempts he has had to bat in the second innings.

The steadiness was deflating for South Africa, especially after Rahul Dravid got out just before tea. Gambhir had made 62 from 142 when Dravid got out, and then just to make sure South Africa were completely disheartened, he scored only two off the next 42 deliveries. For those who respect stonewallers, it was a beautiful passage of play that started just before Dravid's dismissal: Gambhir added five runs in 58 deliveries.

By the time he got out in an unfortunate manner, gloving one down the leg side, Gambhir had made sure the series had been saved. India were not surprised at the source of this particular kind of resistance. "We saw the Napier innings, which was very special," MS Dhoni said. "We all knew he was one guy who could do it. It was really good to see him take those big heavy blows on the body and still continue. You need plenty of courage to do that, and it was good to see the bat the way he did. Unfortunately he got out. If he had stayed till the end, it would have been much better, but still happy because the team needed that and one of the individuals stepped up and said, 'Okay I will be the person to do that.'"

Now that the game has petered out to a tame draw, Gambhir's effort might look easier than it was, but it took all his concentration to bat and not do what every batsman loves to do: score runs. Gambhir didn't get a century on the tour that was to be his biggest test as an opener, but he looked good for one on three occasions out of the four times he batted. Quietly during the series, Gambhir has walked away with a lot of credit.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-india-2010/content/story/495721.html

[directhit]

Gambhir - after that first day thadavals vs Morkel bowling what a comeback :clap: :clap: admire his grit and determination :thumbsup:

[jackamla]

Gautam Gambhir is an Indian cricketer. He is the only Indian batsman to score more than 300 runs in four consecutive Test series. He scored five hundreds in five consecutive test matches.

[littlemaster1982]

Gautam Gambhir is an Indian cricketer. He is the only Indian batsman to score more than 300 runs in four consecutive Test series. He scored five hundreds in five consecutive test matches.

Spam-laiye idhu pudhusa irukke :lol:

[littlemaster1982]

I play for India, I play for people of my country

Three fifties in eight matches, three lost opportunities of getting a World Cup hundred or are you satisfied?

Satisfaction is the wrong word. As a performer, you can never be satisfied. I am happy that I could play a part in the team reaching the final. There is no good in getting a hundred and the team losing.

You feel you could have done more?

I'd be really proud if I had stayed till the end to see my team through, either getting the winning runs or playing out the 50 overs.

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell wrote in a column that you should not have been in the XI.

That is the problem in our system. Whatever good or bad is said by former cricketers is considered gospel. Our media should not blow out of proportion the opinion of former cricketers. It is easy for Ian Chappell to sit in an air-conditioned box and pass judgment, but I respect the opinion of my team management. If they want me to serve drinks, I'll merrily do that. I am playing a role asked by my team management, Chappell, or anyone else, doesn't know the requirements off a particular player. He should look after his team; Australia crashed out in the quarterfinals and also lost the Ashes.

Did his comments motivate you to do well against Australia?

I don't play for Ian Chappell. I play for India, I play for the 100 million people of my country.

And those 100 million people would be desperate for you to win.

We are aware and will give our best. And if we win the final, for me, it'll be dedicated to the people who lost their lives in the 26/11 massacre. To my mind, a win against Pakistan and a win in the final and that too in Mumbai should be dedicated to those victims.

Do you think that will soothe their pain?

I am sure the win against Pakistan would have helped. Once on a trip to Jammu, I met some army men. They told me whatever we do, whoever we play; we should never lose to Pakistan. One of them was posted at the Indo-Pak border and was so emotional that he suggested that I should have a tattoo on my body saying, "I will never lose to Pakistan".

Do you have one?

No, it's not on my body but is etched on my heart and soul.

What will it do to India and Indian cricket if your team wins?

There will be frenzy but I hope that people do not lose perspective. Yes, it is the World Cup but then bigger issues in our country like population, crime and corruption need to be resolved. For Indian cricket, I hope it inspires youngsters to work harder but I'd restrain from saying anything else as we need to win the game first.

Would you have a bigger role to play against the Sri Lanka spinners?

It's about everybody in the group and not me alone. Yes, their spinners are world class and the onus is on us to counter them.

Apart from the last game against Pakistan where you were out to a spinner, you play spin the best - something that even coach Gary Kirsten endorses.

That and my running between the wickets have to do with street cricket in Delhi. I grew up playing on unprepared surfaces where your wicket depended on quickly adapting to the bounce. As a kid, I could never differentiate off-spin from leg-spin. All I looked to do was to try to hit the ball before it pitched. That became part of my system and I just developed my batting along the same lines.

Has Gary given you a new name after calling you 'Banker' and 'Rock' earlier?

Yeah, this time it is street-fighter and I don't know why he has given me that name. But I am fine with it..

We know that you are usually hard on yourself. Has it gotten worse in WC?

Yes, I'm the same grumpy Gautam who smiles very less on the field. I go very quiet before going into the match. I guess it works for me though my team-mates keep telling me it is just a game.

They are right. Look at Yuvraj, he has turned it around, why do you worry so much?

Yuvi is a class act. I said even before the World Cup that he can win us the tournament. He has been brilliant.

___________________________

Loved this interview by Gambhir on the eve of the final. This guy is tough as nails 8-) Vital contribution yesterday, but missed out on a well deserved 100 :(

[littlemaster1982]

The dive that defined Gambhir (http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/current/story/509304.html)


http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/130900/130975.jpg

There is a photo from the World Cup final that Gautam Gambhir can be truly proud of. Yes, he will enjoy the victory pictures along with his team-mates, but this one is more personal. And no, he didn't score a century, so this is not a celebration photo. It is a picture of his completing a second run after he had punched Muttiah Muralitharan in the 19th over, two runs that took him to 49.

Gambhir doesn't like the 40s and the 90s; he prefers racing through those phases. He had tried to cut the previous ball even though there was a slip and two backward points at an arm's length from each other. Gambhir was a bit edgy, and the shot was uppish but fell short of one of the points. The next ball he punched straighter of point, and immediately called two. Midway during the second Gambhir realised he was struggling, and what happened next was the defining moment of his innings. He dived full length, legs and waist forming an inverted C along the ground, elbows scraping against the pitch, head inches above the turf. It will be a significant image in Gambhir's career.

Twice in the past Gambhir has had two potentially great ODI knocks cut short by careless run-outs. Had those innings reached appropriate completion, they would have taken him from being a very good batsman to an absolute class act.

The first was against Pakistan in a Champions Trophy game in 2009. To say Gambhir was charged up that day would be an understatement. India had been shoddy in letting Pakistan get 302, but Gambhir was a man possessed during the chase. He stepped out and slashed, he cover-drove like a dream, he flicked off the pads, and despite Sachin Tendukar's early dismissal, he stunned Pakistan. But just when a match-winning knock against Pakistan at a world event was being played, Rahul Dravid hit powerfully to mid-off, and both he and Gambhir took few instinctive steps, then decided against the single. Gambhir, 59 off 46 then, turned around to see Younis Khan hit the stumps direct. Had he dived then, or attempted to hurry the fielder by trying to, he would have been allowed to continue what was looking like a dream effort. Instead he had to walk back, cursing himself, and India collapsed.

Against Australia in the quarter-final a week ago, Gambhir had begun another match-winning effort. He came in early at the fall of Virender Sehwag and serenely took India to a position of control. In the 40s, he started running absurdly. Twice either Yuvraj Singh or Gambhir could have got run out, and on the third occasion Gambhir ran himself out, giving Australia an opening. That time Yuvraj absorbed the pressure and took India through, but Gambhir was cursing again. It could have been perfect riposte to those who were calling for his head in the initial stages of the tournament.

Failures, especially these careless errors, torture Gambhir, an introspective person who is hard on himself. And so they should. He is an intense person, a fiery character, a superb batsman who loves the big occasion and the strife. And yet he can be casual with the running. Not sliding the bat, not diving, overestimating his legs. Tonight he dived, and the moment he did, it seemed he was onto something special.

Gambhir played the second half of his innings with obvious back pain; he even seemed to have taken a painkilling tablet during one of the unscheduled drinks breaks. For this special occasion, however, Gambhir was not only charged up, he was prepared to be a workman too. Diving was not the only new thing he did. He also played the orthodox sweep, something he rarely does. The paddle sweep that guides the ball fine yes, but not the proper sweep, where he needs to get down on one knee.

Perhaps Gambhir is so good a player that he doesn't need to play the sweep. He uses his feet to get to the pitch of the ball, and also to go back after a decoy half step forward, creating a cuttable length. After he had looked good against pace, Gambhir tried to come down the track against spin. The first time he tried it, he nearly lost his wicket to Suraj Randiv, who got extra bounce because of his height and tall action. Then Gambhir swept the next ball. It wasn't a pretty shot, it was a shot of a man who doesn't often need to sweep. It was an effective shot though. He went on to, awkwardly again, slog-sweep Randiv for four. Kumar Sangakkara had blocked the chip and the cut with strong off-side fields, and Gambhir was improvising. Charged up for the big night he was.


In the 90s Gambhir got edgy again. Tiredness, back pain and edginess are hardly good bedfellows. He reached 90 in the 38th over, and in the 42nd he was still on 97. Those who have seen Gambhir enough knew he was going to charge at the bowler. Charge he did, and played a tired shot, falling three short of a match-winning century in a World Cup final, at a ground where he also has a century in a Ranji Trophy-winning final. Had he got those three runs, he would surely have been Man of the Match too.

As he walked back, Gambhir kept admonishing himself. Only when he was near the stairway to the dressing room did he realise the huge cheer from the crowd and acknowledge it. Despite that shot, though, Gambhir had done his job tonight, leaving MS Dhoni, Yuvraj and Suresh Raina not many to get. And that photograph is just as priceless as the hundred he should have got.

[Plum]

Passionate hate for Pakistan. Cricket=War?
Ivar captain Agardhula indha intensity dhAn konjam nerudalA irukku. Might end up expecting players to be regimented and intense and screw a few careers. Can we directly skip to Virat from dhoni? In other words, Dhoni should stay for another 5 years atleast as Captain to be safe

[sathya_1979]

Dhoni just 29, he can, will and should captain for another 6-7 years easily

[Plum]

He should but 365 days a year avarai use paNNikkurAnga. India/CSK need a wicket keeper who can keep his place in the team as a wk-batsman. IllainA the workload on Dhoni is mind boggling. Edhai vENumna skip paNNattum - england and australia tourkkku Dhoni thEvai

[sathya_1979]

Maybe DK for CSK, avan IPL la konjam decentA vELayAduvAn (Like Rohit). India - only Dhoni as WK.

[vanchi]

Gautam was brilliant in the final. thevai illama run out or needless shots control pannarna, he will do good.
murali karthik was telling that gauti is an angry young man.:lol:.

I love his down the wicket shots agt even pacers. stylish and will continue to be a great asset to dhoni. as for his emphasis on winning ag pak, hats off to him for that.
siddhu was mentioning one relevant incident abt this.
gautam :clap:

[ajithfederer]

One of the wings on which Indian cricket took a concerted flight

The Cup was won with Gambhir as an integral part of the triumph

There are many in this team who can thrill people. Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni...But Gautam Gambhir thrills them differently.

He loves a fight. He could have been a good boxer. Quite true. :lol:

He is mentally tuned to indulge in a combat at the shortest notice. So what if he is short in stature? “Height does not matter,” he asserts. His mantra is simple: “Adaptability and adjustment make you ready for any battle.” This is what he has been reminding himself from the time he slammed a century, as a 12-year-old, or maybe 13, in a local tournament.

Gambhir can be really explosive — the strokes from his bat matching his temper, hurting the bowler, embarrassing the fielders. They often watch in exasperation, as did the Sri Lankans the other night when the left-hander went about repairing the early damage of losing Sehwag and Tendulkar.

As the crowd roars and the bowlers wilt, he makes his moves. Not that he waits for such an opening. If the first ball he faces deserves punishment, it will be dealt with appropriately. “Learnt it from Viru (Sehwag),” he confessed once.

Gambhir grew in Sehwag's shadow, aping him, idolising him, and sometimes matching him, but always admiring his range of shots.

Blessed with talent, and a strong mind, why does he lose temper then? It is put on, to push himself, to set up a fight. Nothing can put him down; nothing. The state of the pitch and the character of the opposition do not matter to him.

Call it arrogance. Or confidence.

He remembers his strong points when the fight begins. Nothing has changed in his game. He wants to dominate, dictate, and, essentially, perform. He loves to create a situation and then tackle it like a champion. He has grown to back himself and has often succeeded.

Champions love to be part of a weak outfit and take on the formidable. Gambhir belongs to that league.

A difficult period
Imagine, he had chucked away his bat in 2007 on being ignored for the World Cup. It was a difficult period. He knew nothing other than cricket. And cricket suddenly appeared to be slipping from his grasp. Close to quitting, he reminded himself of the days when he pursued the dream of winning the World Cup for India.

So, he went back to local competitions, domestic circuit, and lit up the contests with his fireworks, sometimes verbal, but mostly cricketing.

Guiding him right through was Sehwag, one explosive batsman challenging the other. Sehwag would tease him, saying, “you can come in only if you displace me. Try!” And Gambhir tried, not to displace Sehwag, but take a leaf out of his philosophy. By fighting for his space in Indian cricket.

To get the best out of his bat, he needed to live with the willow. He did just that, backed by coach Sanjay Bhardwaj.

A few saw Gambhir toil in blistering heat, hone his skills, and prepare to conquer, which he did with a match-winning performance. He was denied a century by three runs — his own making — but then he had done his job.

He had dreamt of this occasion. He lost the man of the match award but won the match!

A man of few words
Gambhir, 29, is a man of few words. But he loves to speak through his cricket, his bat doing the talking. You may not need a stump mike to hear his outbursts against the opposition, especially Shahid Afridi, but you would have to strain your ears during one-on-one close conversations with him.

He can be polite to a fault but tough to argue with when he decides to take on the opponent to make a point.

He was learning to walk when India won the World Cup in 1983. On Saturday night, he was one of the wings on which Indian cricket took a concerted flight. The Cup was won with Gambhir as an integral part of the triumph.

A dream was realised at the Wankhede Stadium. And Gambhir, as is his wont, controlled his emotions. Fighters don't shed tears when they win. Gambhir,the street fighter, perhaps, has saved the tears of joy for another day.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/article1597141.ece?homepage=true

[littlemaster1982]

‘It’s an ego thing’
Dinesh Chopra, Hindustan Times

You said beforehand that you'd score big in the finals.

I had the hunch I’d do well. Coming into the final, I did well against England, South Africa and Australia scoring half centuries. I wanted to go big against strong oppositions, and something told me I will turn it on in the final as well. There is no Paul the Octopus in my life (laughs).

You guys are the world champions, can you explain that high?

I will share an incident to explain that. After winning the final, on the way to our hotel, I saw a destitute family sleeping on the pavement. There was a couple with its three young children. I doubt if they had proper meals but they slept like a log, wearing an India shirt. I suspect they too would have celebrated with others on the streets. That to me is the high. The way cricket, and more importantly the success of the Indian team, binds the nation and helps people forget their challenges is the real kick. We are lucky we can do that.

Any big success also helps erase some bitter memories. Did this do that for you?

Yes. Perhaps this win will ensure I don't revisit the lows of not making the team for the 2007 World Cup. From a broader perspective, it was heartening to see a teeming lobby of the Taj, with so many fans cheering for Team India. Who'd have thought when 26/11 happened that three years down the road this lobby would witness historic scenes one day.

What were you thinking when you went to bat at 0 for 1?

From the outside it may seem I was under pressure, but believe me I was absolutely fine. I just told myself I had performed in even bigger pressure situations and should be able to handle this. I remember in 2007, during our tour to England, we were supposed to play a one-day game in Trent Bridge. A member of the team management came and said, ‘if you fail tomorrow, I’m sorry but you will be out’. That is a lot more pressure compared to walking out to the middle at 0/1 in a World Cup final.

Run-scoring seemed a lot easier than one expected. You agree?

I think so. Generally Sri Lanka are a very good bowling side but they looked a little pale. I think it is to do with Muralitharan not firing. He looked off-colour, maybe because of injury or he was not getting the zip or bite off the wicket.

You batted well too…

Yeah. Virat, MS, Yuvi and I all batted well. The calm with which this team approaches challenges is the key to success. You’d never feel we are flustered or rushed. This self-belief has developed over the years after being through the lows a number of times.

What is the best compliment you have got so far?

My inbox had 676 messages and about 192 missed calls when I switched on my phone after the game. I haven’t read them, but I'm sure I can't get a better message than what Gary told me. He said, ‘if ever I need anyone to save my life, it will be you’. That to me sums up Gary Kirsten. He gives you so much confidence you feel like Superman. I feel I can smash the wall with my head.

It must be a special feeling to put a classy ton by Jayawardene in the shade.

It was satisfying to hear good words from Sangakkara after the game. But the fact that I could negate a brilliant hundred by Mahela was extremely satisfying. He is a class player, especially against spin. When he was batting I was telling myself I have to better or match him, stroke for stroke. It's an ego thing. A feeling to go one better than your rival.

You must be heart-broken not to get a hundred?

Not at all. I thought about it for a moment but after a while I was fine. India has won the World Cup. What can be bigger than that?

Did the anxiety of getting a World Cup final hundred get the better of you?

Yes, it did happen. At times when you are close to the pinnacle, subconsciously you reach there even before you are actually there. The same happened to me. I reached the hundred before I got there, was imagining myself raising the bat and lost focus. But now who cares? We are the world champions.

Waiting for 2007 T20 World Cup like reception?

Whatever the celebrations, it doesn't really matter. No one should be inconvenienced by it. I'd urge yes, it is a World Cup win, but people should not lose perspective. We've reached the top in both ODIs and Tests. But now the challenge will be to stay there as the world wants us to fall. We have to guard against that.

______________________

Gary's words :notworthy:

[Plum]

‘if ever I need anyone to save my life, it will be yo
Coming from a man who many of his team mates will nominate to save their life, that must be quite a compliment for Gambhir.

[kid-glove]

Mahela's innings was far more classier, no? What is he talking about? :lol2:

[Plum]

kAkkai. pon. kunju.

[vanchi]

97 in final most important knock of my career: Gambhir

Top batsman Gautam Gambhir on Monday described his knock of 97 in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka as the most important innings of his career though it was not the best. Gambhir top-scored with a gutsy 97 from 122 balls which set up the historic win for India after openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were out cheaply.

"The 97 in the World Cup final was not the best innings in my career but no doubt the most important one so far," Gambhir told reporters after reaching home.

"It was a special knock for me as it came in a special situation. The whole country was expecting us to win the World Cup and I have contributed my bit in India's triumph. So, it was the most important innings of my career," he said after a grand welcome with people thronging at his home following news of his arrival.

Gambhir and his Delhi team-mate Virat Kohli stitched a crucial 83-run stand for the third wicket to keep India on track in the run chase of 275 after the home side were down 31 for two. He was out three runs short of century.

He said he was not disappointed to have missed a century in the final, saying winning the World Cup was more important than personal milestone.

"Obviously, a century in the final would have been the icing on the cake. But winning was more important for the country. If you had hit a century but your team lost there was no point," he said.

"On the other hand, if you missed a century but helped your team win the World Cup, that I will take," said 29-year-old Gambhir.

[Sourav]

'Stressbuster' Viru helps me score runs: Gambhir
July 09, 2011 6:46:37 PM

PTI | Kolkata

Company of explosive batsman Virender Sehwag is like a 'stressbuster' since he helps his partners bat without pressure, India opener Gautam Gambhir said today.

The left-handed batsman, who was here to shoot for a TV quiz show hosted by former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, also said that he is looking forward to the England tour.

"Batting with Viru (Virender Sehwag) is always a treat. He plays his natural game and takes the pressure off his partner, allowing him to play naturally.

"He is like a stressbuster. He has always helped me to score big runs," said the Delhi lad, who has 3234 runs in 38 Tests at a healthy average of 51.33.

The Indian vice-captain, who missed the West Indies tour because of a back injury, said, "I am keeping myself ready for the tour. I am practising hard for the all important tour. Hopefully, I will be able to do well."

The 29-year-old revealed that the 2008 ODI series in Australia was a turning point in his cricketing career.

"Consecutive centuries in Brisbane and Sydney helped in boosting my confidence. Those centuries were very important for my career. Even I feel that any player should be given enough chance to make a comeback."

Gambhir missed a century by three runs in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka and he said, "I never thought of it but I became nervous once everybody started saying I was three runs short, something that cost me dear...."

However, Gambhir said he was happy to accomplish the job as India were reeling 31 for 2 when he came in at No 3.

"My job was to be there and play my natural game. So, I never had the time to think anything negative. I guess, that's what helped me score big run," he said.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/351929/Stressbuster-Viru-helps-me-score-runs-Gambhir.html