It has been equally difficult for us also to say goodbye to Gambhir as much as for him to say to cricket. Star player Gautam Gambhir announced retirement from all forms of cricket on social media in an emotional Facebook video on Tuesday.
The most difficult decisions are often taken with the heaviest of hearts.
And with one heavy heart, I’ve decided to make an announcement that I’ve dreaded all my life.
➡️https://t.co/J8QrSHHRCT@BCCI #Unbeaten
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) December 4, 2018
Gambhir, true to his name, is known for his intensity, seriousness and daring for both on and off the field. He was one of the most loyal and influential attendants of Indian cricket.
Gambhir debut in ODI against Bangladesh on April 11, 2003. After which he sustained his position in the team becoming one of the most successful openers for India, and made a spectacular opening pair with fast batsman Virender Sehwag.
But a series of poor performances removed him from the Indian team in 2014. And it is very unfortunate that he was not in favour of the selectors because despite being consistent performers he is being ignored for some reason or another.
LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME FACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PERIOD OF HIS TENURE.
In the T-20 World Cup 2007 final, and in the ICC World Cup 2011 final, Gautam Gambhir will always be remembered for his innings where he scored 57 and 97 respectively.
In 2009, Gambhir became the number-one ranked batsman in the ICC Test rankings. In the same year, he also won the ICC Test Player of the Year Award.
He scored the highest runs and hundreds in ODIs by an Indian in 2008. He also scored one of the highest centuries in Test cricket by an Indian in 2009.
Gambhir is awarded the Arjuna Award by India’s President, India’s second-largest sports prize in the year 2008.
Under the captaincy of Gambhir, India has never lost the match. From the end of 2010 to the end of 2011, he led the Indian team in six ODIs with India winning all six matches. Gambhir started his captaincy for India in 2010.
Gambhir is the only Indian cricketer to score 5 continuous test centuries. The only others to manage this deed are Bradman, Kallis and Mohd Yousuf. After Sir Vivian Richards he is the second batsman to score back-to-back 11 fifties.
Not only expressive about issues related to national pride but also paying for the education of the kids of CRPF jawans martyred in Chhattisgarh and Zohra, daughter of a J&K police ASI killed by terrorists is another deed by him.
Gautam Gambhir’s GG foundation works a lot for people’s welfare. It has opened a community kitchen where free food is provided to the poor.
Gautam Gambhir has been a great supporter of the rights of transgender people. To make people aware of transgender issues, he uses his social media popularity. He keeps highlights of their struggles in tweets and posts. He also celebrated Raksha Bandhan with the Trans community.
Gambhir made a huge deal for $ 2.5 million by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010 and becoming the most expensive player in the history of IPL for the same year. He won two IPL titles under the leadership of KKR.
Gambhir always lived with his grandparents because they adopted him after 18 days of his birth.
Gautam Gambhir scored 81 important runs in the third Youth ODI game against England in Hyderabad and helped India win the U-19 series 2-1.
During his double century in the Youth Test, Gambhir recorded the opening platform of 391 with Vinayak Mane, which is a record attain for any wicket in Youth Test cricket.
Gambhir debut the ODI against Bangladesh in 2003, and in 2004, he debuted his Test match against Australia.
With Sehwag, Gambhir shares 4412 runs partnership in 87 innings, which is one of the biggest for Indian opening pair.
At the end of the 2010 Indian Premier League tournament, he was the only player of Delhi Daredevils to score more than 1,000 runs in the IPL.
He joined a controversy when he elbowed the Australian bowler Shane Watson to a run. He was later banned for a test.
In the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 match between Delhi and Andhra, he made a memorable century chasing 112 runs in his departure at Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi.
