(IPL Photo)
Gautam Gambhir played a crucial role in India’s victory in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka. India, chasing a target of 275, faced early setbacks when Virender Sehwag departed on the second ball and Sachin Tendulkar fell for 18 runs. Gambhir then partnered with Virat Kohli to stabilize the innings with an 83-run stand.
During the final in Mumbai, MS Dhoni came to bat ahead of Yuvraj Singh. Gambhir, batting left-handed, narrowly missed out on a century, scoring 97 runs off 122 balls. Dhoni, however, anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 91 runs off 79 balls, guiding India to lift the World Cup trophy.
I Wish I Had Finished That Game says Gautam Gambhir
On Friday, June 21, Gautam Gambhir voiced his remorse for not being the player to hit the decisive runs in the match. He stressed that his responsibility was to see the game through to the end and wished he could go back in time to be the one who scored the final run.
“I wish I had finished that game. It was my job to finish the game, rather than leaving someone to finish the game. If I had to turn back the clock, I would go back there and score the last run, irrespective of how many runs I scored,” Gambhir said at a ‘Rise To Leadership’ seminar.
Gautam Gambhir said Got This Honour Of Captaining India
At 42 years old, Gautam Gambhir stated that he harbors no regrets about not having a prolonged tenure as India’s captain. He emphasized that his focus had always been on contributing to his team’s triumphs rather than seeking personal accolades. Gambhir underscored his dedication to achieving victories for his country and any team he represented.
“I have always thought about performing for the fans, and that has been my thought since the last year of my training career. In the middle, I got the honor of captaining India for six games. I tried doing it to the best of my ability,” Gambhir said.
“Otherwise, I have no regrets whatsoever because my job was not to captain the series. My job was to make my country win, and whichever team I play for, make that team win,” he added.
Gautam Gambhir is poised to take over from Rahul Dravid as the next head coach of India following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024 held in the West Indies and the USA. He recently engaged in a virtual interview with the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee, and an official confirmation regarding his appointment is anticipated in the near future.
