SK Cricket Trivia: Unknown facts about Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir is certainly one of the names that will find a special place in India’s cricket history. Not only was he a part of India’s World T20 and ICC World Cup (50-over) winning teams, he played a significant role in those tournaments and knockout games as well.

The left-handed opener who was born in Delhi made his international debut in an ODI against Bangladesh in April 2003. About a year and a half later (in November 2004), he made his Test debut against Australia.

However, he only became a regular member in 2008 and under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, he was a crucial member of the side in the phase 2008-2011. However, post-2012, his form dipped. Despite making a couple of comebacks, he is still out of national reckoning.

It is over two years since he last donned India colours. However, his contributions have been excellent. He has represented India in 242 international games and has scored over 10,000 runs.

As he turns 37 today, we wish Gautam Gambhir a very happy birthday and take a look back at some unknown facts about the Delhi left-hander.

---

#1 Big match player (Top scorer in both ICC tournament finals)

There have been three significant moments in white-ball cricket for India in the 21st century, all three ICC World Championship triumphs (World T20 in 2007, World Cup in 2011, Champions Trophy in 2013). In two of those, Gautam Gambhir has played a significant part in the final. However, with others performing and getting the man of the match trophies, it has often been overlooked.

In the final of the 2007 World T20 in Johannesburg against Pakistan, Gambhir top-scored with 75 as India posted 157 batting first. With India losing wickets at regular intervals, he kept the scoreboard moving from his end and helped the ‘Men in Blue’ get to a competitive total. Irfan Pathan took 3/16 and ripped through Pakistan’s middle-order and was given the player of the match. He scored 227 runs in 7 games at an average of 37.83 at a strike rate of 129.71 in that tournament.

His 97 in the World Cup Final in 2011 against Sri Lanka will definitely go down as one of the most underrated knocks in the history of Indian cricket. India were reduced to 33/2 chasing 275 in the final and the pressure was huge. Gambhir walked in at No. 3 and eased the nerves as he first shared an 83-run stand with Virat Kohli and then an 89-run stand with MS Dhoni. He struck 97 in 122 balls but Dhoni’s terrific unbeaten 91 overshadowed Gambhir’s knock. Gambhir was excellent throughout the World Cup as he scored 393 runs in matches at an average of 43.66.

Two big finals and he top-scored in both those games. A very underrated yet a big match player.

#2 Unbeaten record as a skipper in international cricket

Gautam Gambhir was excellent as a leader and has a 100% captaincy record in ODI cricket.

Gautam Gambhir, the captain will always be remembered for his exploits in the IPL. He led the Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles (in 2012 and 2014). After a lacklustre first three seasons, the Gambhir-led KKR became one of the most consistent sides in the IPL.

While his record as an IPL captain is relatively known, his exploits as captain in international cricket are largely unknown. He has led India in 6 games (all of them in ODI cricket) and India have tasted victory in all 6 games. He led India in 2010 in a 5-match series against New Zealand at home and whitewashed the Kiwis 5-0.

He always had a terrific cricketing brain and his captaincy records speak for himself. However, it is unfortunate that he couldn't lead India in more games as his captaincy skills were largely underused.

#3 Only Indian to score 300+ runs in four successive Test series

Gautam Gambhir scored 4156 Test runs at an average of 41.96. He represented India in 58 Test matches and has batted over 100 times in the whites. While he holds the record for being the only Indian to score five consecutive Test centuries, he is also just the second batsman after Sir Viv Richards to score 11 successive half-centuries.

There’s another special record that Gambhir holds. He is the only Indian to score over 300 runs in four consecutive Test series’. He scored 310, 463, 361 and 445 runs against Sri Lanka (away), Australia (home), England (home) and New Zealand (away) respectively between 2008 and 2009.

He scored seven fifties and five hundreds in this phase and India dominated during this phase as well. He also rose to the No. 1 Test ranking in this phase and was the best opening batsman going around in world cricket.

#4 Gautam Gambhir – The nationalist and humanitarian

Gautam Gambhir has always been in support of the jawans and the army fighting at the border. He has constantly been in support of them

Gambhir has been in the news for his off-field commitments as well. He is very vocal about his support for the jawans and the Indian army fighting at the border. He recently funded the education of children of CRPF jawans martyred in Chhattisgarh and Zohra.

He runs the Gautam Gambhir (GG) Foundation which works for the welfare of poor people. He recently announced the opening of a special kitchen through a tweet, ‘Compassion in my heart, a plate in my hand & a prayer on my lips ‘No one should sleep hungry’.

He has come out in support of transgenders as well. He has also been quite local about terrorism in India and has fought (and argued) multiple times against terrorists and terrorism in general.