‘As a Cricketer, Gambhir Was Always Keen to Learn,’ Says Laxman
VVS Laxman welcomes Gautam Gambhir to the ‘retirement club’ and reminisces some of his best knocks.
Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday, 4 December, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Having last donned the Indian jersey two years back, Gambhir said he would be playing competitive cricket for one final time when he takes the field in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Andhra starting Thursday at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
His former teammate and batting partner VVS Laxman shared some fond memories of the Delhi batsman while speaking to The Quint and said, “I would like to congratulate Gautam on a wonderful and remarkable career. The kind of intensity, pride and passion with which you played your cricket, I’m sure if you show the same traits in your second innings, in your post-retirement life, I am sure it will also be as fulfilling and fruitful.”
One of Gautam Gambhir’s career’s biggest and most important knocks would have to be the 2011 World Cup final, when India were 31/1 in 6.1 overs with Sachin Tendulkar back in the hut, and he scored 97 to get the chase back on track. However, for Laxman, this is not his finest innings.
“Some of his knocks have been instrumental in India winning Test matches and winning one-dayers, including the 2011 World Cup final where he played a remarkable knock against Sri Lanka. For me, the best knock of Gautam’s was the test match in Napier. He got a big score there but it was not the score that mattered but the grit, determination, patience and character he showed in Napier because of which we could draw the game from a challenging situation,” said Laxman while recalling Gambhir’s second innings of 137 that helped India draw the match.
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