Gautam Gambhir: A cricketing journey defined by grit, glory and leadership

After weeks of anticipation, the BCCI officially announced Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of Team India on Tuesday. Gambhir, celebrated for his fiery and outspoken demeanor during his playing days, steps into the role with bold confidence. He takes over from the reserved yet effective Rahul Dravid, who concluded his tenure on a high note with a triumphant T20 World Cup win last month.

Gautam Gambhir, one of India's most complete batters between 2008 and the 2011 World Cup, excelled in all three formats of the game. Known for his adaptability, he could be more aggressive than Virender Sehwag, play resilient innings akin to Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, and accumulate runs with minimal risk like Sachin Tendulkar in his later years.

Despite technical flaws that hampered his performance outside this peak period, Gambhir's over 10,000 international runs, two significant World Cup final innings, and leadership in winning two IPL titles for Kolkata Knight Riders mark him as a key figure in Indian cricket.

Initially, Gambhir struggled to translate his domestic success to the international stage. Despite praise from Ranji circuit bowlers, he managed only two international centuries in his first 32 matches, leading to his exclusion from the 2007 World Cup squad. However, he made a strong comeback through substantial domestic runs and technical improvements, becoming known as one of India's best players of spin. A century in his second ODI back and a pivotal 75 in the inaugural T20 World Cup secured his return to Test cricket.

From October 2008 to February 2010, Gambhir scored eight Test centuries, including an 11-hour marathon in Napier, and matched Viv Richards' record of half-centuries in 11 consecutive Tests. His contributions earned him the Arjuna Award, recognition as ICC Test Player of 2009, and accolades from Sehwag, who called him the best Indian Test opener since Sunil Gavaskar. Gambhir's match-winning 97 in the 2011 World Cup final was a career highlight.

KEY POINTS ABOUT GAUTAM GAMBHIR

• Birthdate: October 14, 1981
• Personality: Known for speaking his mind and engaging in numerous on-field spats.
• International Career: Played 58 Tests (4,154 runs, avg 42), 147 ODIs (5,238 runs, avg 39.7), and 37 T20Is (932 runs, avg 27.4).
• Accolades: Named ICC Best Player of the Year in 2009.
• Captaincy: Led the Indian team in 6 ODIs in 2010 and 2011, maintaining an unbeaten record as captain.

World Cup Performances:
- Top scorer with 75 runs in the final against Pakistan as India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.
- Top scorer for India with 97 runs in the final of the 2011 ODI World Cup against Sri Lanka, leading to India's victory.

• IPL Achievements: Captained Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and served as team mentor during their 2024 title win.
• Political Career: Served as BJP MP from East Delhi from 2019 to 2024; opted out of active politics to focus on cricket.

Post-2011, Gambhir's form declined sharply, struggling in series against England and Australia, which saw India lose eight Tests consecutively. Once a potential captain, he found it challenging to maintain his place in the team with the emergence of M Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan. His international career effectively ended after a failed comeback in 2014.

In the IPL, Gambhir remained a prominent player, particularly for Kolkata Knight Riders, whom he led to their first title in 2012. He retired from all forms of cricket in 2018, later receiving the Padma Shri and becoming a Member of Parliament in 2019. In 2024 he retired from politics to contribute to cricket.