Gautam Gambhir, the under-appreciated hero

When you see the likes of Glenn Maxwell struggling at the IPL year after year, you wonder why Gautam Gambhir was done away with so swiftly after just six poor performances.

Gautam Gambhir is just as important in Indian cricket's biggest triumphs as MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Think of the two World Cup wins which are the most cherished by the Indian fans in this century - the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup of 2011 which was held in India.

In the finals of both these tournaments, it was Gautam Gambhir who set the foundation for victory. Although other performances closer to the finish line overshadowed his contribution, players like Gambhir should get their due.

In the IPL as well, Gambhir did a great job by leading Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL trophies within just three years. When the Kolkata Knight Riders picked Gautam Gambhir in 2011 and sacked former captain Sourav Ganguly, it riled up the KKR fans.

However, Gambhir kept at it and helped KKR lift their first title in 2012. The skipper doubled up in 2014 with another title and gained the respect of not only the Kolkata fans but the entire cricketing fraternity.

In 2017, Gambhir wanted to finish on a high as he moved back to Delhi Daredevils, his home franchise. However, after just six lean performances, Gambhir took the onus on himself and resigned from captaincy. As per the batsman, he was available for selection but was not picked.

In Test cricket as well, the left-hander represented India in 58 matches and scored over 4000 runs at an average of over 40. He formed a great combination with Virender Sehwag and won Team India several games both in the Test format and ODIs.

He continued to play domestic cricket till December 2018 and finished on a high, scoring 112 for Delhi in a First-class game against Andhra.

Gautam Gambhir may not be the most gifted of cricketers but through his determination and grit, he ensured that he delivered to the best of his potential. There should be a special place in cricket, or for that matter in all walks of life, for such people who make the most of what they have and even exceed expectations by dint of their industriousness.

As a cricketing voice these days, Gambhir brings his analysis and nous to commentary and is a delight for cricket nuts.

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