Virender Sehwag was gone off the Second ball. Sachin Tendulkar departed in the seventh over. The situation was grim. It was a pressure game. It was a World Cup final. India’s pride was at stake after all the players had promised this World Cup to the country’s greatest cricketer. And left-hander Gautam Gambhir bore the cross, with a bit of chance and guts. Then Gambhir is not new to this type of situation. In the past he has played many unforgettable knocks for India.
On Saturday, it was certainly the best gift to Tendulkar but could not finish off the task getting out for 97 (122 balls, 9x4). But he put India on the road to victory. The 29-year-old Gambhir was hero of Indian innings with a match-winning knock. Gambhir, who was due for a big knock, began his chase with a single-minded devotion. He w as prepared to take the risk. He was more focused, perhaps shaking off the indifferent batting after reaching the half-centuries. He was bold, attacking and adventurous.
He was lucky when Nuwan Kulasekara grassed an easy chance at long off when the batsman was on 30 off off-spinner Suraj Ranadiv.Gambhir, who likes to dance down the track to the spinners, showed good nature and technique to ward off the early danger. In the company of young Virat Kohli, Gambhir repaired the damage. Gambhir’s first four with a flick to the square leg boundary of the risky Malinga and then a streaky four against Thisara Perera. But after that Gambhir played some wonderful strokes to assert himself.
Gambhir at this World Cup:
See World Cup News at ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 News
On Saturday, it was certainly the best gift to Tendulkar but could not finish off the task getting out for 97 (122 balls, 9x4). But he put India on the road to victory. The 29-year-old Gambhir was hero of Indian innings with a match-winning knock. Gambhir, who was due for a big knock, began his chase with a single-minded devotion. He w as prepared to take the risk. He was more focused, perhaps shaking off the indifferent batting after reaching the half-centuries. He was bold, attacking and adventurous.
He was lucky when Nuwan Kulasekara grassed an easy chance at long off when the batsman was on 30 off off-spinner Suraj Ranadiv.Gambhir, who likes to dance down the track to the spinners, showed good nature and technique to ward off the early danger. In the company of young Virat Kohli, Gambhir repaired the damage. Gambhir’s first four with a flick to the square leg boundary of the risky Malinga and then a streaky four against Thisara Perera. But after that Gambhir played some wonderful strokes to assert himself.
Gambhir at this World Cup:
| Matches | Runs | Avg | SR | 50 | 100 | HS |
| 9 | 393 | 43.66 | 85.06 | 4 | 0 | 97 |
See World Cup News at ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 News
