Indian cricket’s fierce warrior, How did Gambhir's Test career end?

When the name Gautam Gambhir is mentioned, the image of a warrior emerges in the minds of Indian cricket fans. He was a fighter who displayed equal intensity against opponents and teammates, willing to go to any lengths for victory. His Test career was a journey filled with triumphs and setbacks. Making his debut in 2004, he shone as an opening batsman during Indian cricket’s golden era. His Test debut came against Australia in November 2004, but securing a regular spot in the team was a significant challenge early on.

With legendary players like Sehwag, Dravid, Sachin, Laxman, and Ganguly in the Indian batting lineup, establishing a consistent presence was a daunting task for Gambhir. From 2004 to 2007, he managed an average of just 36 across 18 Tests. However, things turned around by 2008. Having cemented his place in limited-overs cricket, Gambhir began dominating in Tests as well. The period from 2008 to 2011 marked the golden phase of his career. During these three years, he scored 8 runs at an average of over 90 in 11 Tests, including eight centuries. His performance in the 2008 Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a prime example, with a century in Mohali and a remarkable 206 runs against Australia in Delhi, among his career’s finest displays. Despite facing a one-match ban following a verbal spat with Shane Watson, Gambhir emerged as the highest run-scorer in that series. He also proved his mettle on foreign soil.

In 2009, his 137 runs in New Zealand, scored over 10 hours of batting, earned him the nickname “India’s second wall.” That same year, he received the ICC Test Player of the Year award. His 97 runs in the 2011 World Cup final played a crucial role in India’s victory. These performances were instrumental in elevating him to the vice-captaincy and helping India reach the number-one spot in Test rankings. However, this golden phase was followed by an unexpected decline.

The 2011 England tour and the 2012 Australia tour turned into nightmares for Gambhir, as India faced comprehensive defeats. From mid-2011 to 2016, he scored just 1,394 runs in 29 Tests at an average of 27, without a single century. Even after being dropped from the national team, Gambhir’s fighting spirit never waned. He continued to toil in domestic cricket, particularly in the Ranji Trophy. In 2014, he got another chance during the England tour but failed to shine. A brief comeback in 2016 against New Zealand marked his final Test series. Beyond batting, Gambhir’s intense approach sometimes sparked controversies. In the 2016-17 Ranji season, a public dispute with Delhi team coach KP Bhaskar made headlines, with allegations that the coach used abusive language. Gambhir claimed he was protecting young players like Nitish Rana and Unmukt Chand from mental harassment. Although the DDCA administrator found him guilty and imposed a four-match ban, Gambhir’s actions highlighted his unwavering support for teammates. Ironically, this controversy galvanized the Delhi team, leading them to the Ranji Trophy final in 2017 and 2018 for the first time since 2008.

On December 4, 2018, Gautam Gambhir retired from all formats of cricket. His nearly two-decade-long career was distinguished by stellar batting performances, unwavering team commitment, and an unquenchable thirst for victory. While the final years of his career may not have been as glorious as expected, his contributions to Indian cricket will always be remembered.