INDIA’S FOREVER CRISIS MAN…..
As an avid follower and a critic about the game, I would ask all of the readers to spare a thought and think about who the most outspoken cricketing personality is? Who is that guy, who without believing in “POLITICAL CORRECTNESS” just keeps forward his view? It can be Wasim Jaffer or as a matter of fact it can also be Sunny Gavaskar or Ravi Shastri. But in this case, it is Gautum Gambhir. Yes, GG as you rightly heard. So, here’s an insight to why this nonchalant yet smart cricketing brain has developed to be the person he is.
So, let’s go back to 1999. GG belongs to a batch of absolutely elite cricketers. MS, Yuvi, Kaif, Deep Das Gupta and many more. He was picked as a backup opener for the U-19 squad that won the world cup under Kaif. He got his big break in the series against Bangladesh in the year 2003. He was handed his ODI cap and a year later his test cap.
Three years down the line, year 2007 and Gambhir is not aware that he was going to be a part of history. Not just a part but an integral one. He is going to be the actual protagonist but without due credit. So here is the story. The big final India Vs Pakistan set-up at the Wanderers. Still wounded after the 2007 ODI world cup the country is already happy with the performance that this group of youngsters has shown. India loses quick wickets and Gambhir takes the onus on himself. He scores a 30 ball 50. You can still picturize him hitting Gul straight to the scoreboard. India scores 150 odd runs. India eventually wins the world cup. But what we remember as fans is just that over by Joginder Sharma and Dhoni’s decision to ask him to bowl. Credit is not given by the media too…. here as fans, we missed a trick.
Next in is 2009. The Napier test. India has conceded a mammoth 619 runs and is following on after scoring 302 runs in a first innings. In comes GG and bats for 11 long hours. He plays a 400+ ball blockathon. Just as to share, GG played the third new ball in the second innings. India successfully draws the test and eventually win the series. Apart from this Gautum was an aggressive individual. He would never might a word or two on the field with Shahid Afridi or a Kamran Akmal. He was the one who always stepped up at crunch moments, he was the “CRISIS MAN” .
And finally, it is 2011, where Gautam is seriously robbed of the credit he deserves. A final that the entire nation awaits. Wankhede is all set, the SriLankan’s are all set and so is GG. While chasing 275 in the final India lose 2 quick wickets. Sachin and Sehwag back to the pavilion. The nation is sure that the cup is gone but GG had other plans. He played a beautifully paced knock of 97 runs. Alongside MS he put the chase back on track. And eventually Ravi Shastri exclaimed those immortal lines “And Dhoni finishes things off in style……”
After ten years of this event taking place, few days back Gautam did showcase his dejection about how media had overhyped that one particular knock and that one particular shot. He quoted, “one shot didn’t win us the world cup”. As an individual I do agree with this while simultaneously agreeing to the fact that MS did play one of the greatest knocks that evening.
In conclusion I would say that, as fans of the modern era we must make sure every member of a champion side does get their due credit. I feel the term UNSUNG must no longer exist in the dictionary of sport. All of the heroes must be celebrated because “SPORTS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST HEALERS”.
— NIKHIL