New Delhi: India men’s team head coach and former opener Gautam Gambhir, renowned for his match-winning temperament in crucial games, turned 44 on Tuesday.
From his debut in 2003 until retirement in 2016, Gambhir carved out a reputation as one of India’s most dependable openers, forming a devastating partnership with Virender Sehwag that dominated attacks worldwide.
Between 2004 and 2016, Gambhir represented India in 58 Tests, amassing 4,154 runs at an average of 41.95, including nine centuries and 22 fifties, with a career-best score of 206. His peak came between 2008 and 2009, when he scored 1,861 runs in 13 Tests at a staggering average of 77.54, earning the ICC Test Player of the Year (2009) award. His gritty 137 off 436 balls in Napier remains a benchmark for resilience in overseas conditions.
In 147 ODIs (2003–2013), he accumulated 5,238 runs at an average of 39.68, with 11 hundreds and 34 half-centuries. His defining moment came in the 2011 ICC World Cup final, where his crucial 97 off 122 balls against Sri Lanka paved the way for India’s historic triumph after 28 years.
In the T20 format, Gambhir was among India’s earliest stars, scoring 932 runs in 37 matches at a strike rate of 119.02. His memorable 75 against Pakistan in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup final was instrumental in securing India’s maiden T20 title.
Across formats, Gambhir played 242 international matches, scoring 10,324 runs at an average of 38.95, including 20 centuries and 63 fifties, placing him among the 14 Indians to cross the 10,000-run milestone.
In the IPL, Gambhir’s leadership proved equally impactful. As captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he guided the franchise to two titles (2012, 2014) and scored 4,217 runs in 154 matches. His 590 runs in IPL 2012, featuring six fifties, showcased his ability to thrive under responsibility.
After retirement, Gambhir transitioned successfully into mentorship, helping Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) reach the playoffs in 2022 and 2023, before returning to KKR as mentor, leading them to another title under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy.
As India’s current head coach, Gambhir’s tenure began with challenges — including a rare home series defeat to New Zealand and the loss of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia — but he turned critics into admirers by guiding a young Indian side, sans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R. Ashwin, to a 2–2 draw in England, one of India’s finest away Test efforts.
Under his leadership, India has played 16 Tests, winning six, losing eight, and drawing two. In ODIs, his record has been stronger — an unbeaten ICC Champions Trophy campaign and a recent home series win over England. Out of 11 ODIs, India has won eight, lost two, and tied one under his guidance.
In T20Is, Gambhir has transformed India into a dominant, fearless unit. With Suryakumar Yadav as captain, India recently clinched the T20 Asia Cup undefeated, sweeping Pakistan in all three encounters. Since Gambhir’s appointment, India has won 18 T20Is, lost just two, and drawn two, without losing a single bilateral series.
A fierce competitor, tactical leader, and eternal fighter, Gautam Gambhir continues to shape Indian cricket — this time, from the dressing room rather than the crease.
