India’s World Cup hero Gautam Gambhir retires
Veteran Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, who played a pivotal role in India’s two World Cup triumphs, on Tuesday announced retirement from cricket, saying the “irritable noise of ‘It’s over Gauti’” has triumphed over his will to continue. The 37-year-old, in a video message on his social media pages, said the Ranji Trophy game against Andhra Pradesh starting on Thursday will be his last competitive match.
The aggressive opener was India’s top-scorer in the finals of the 2007 World T20 in South Africa and the 2011 ODI World Cup, both of which the country won. “The next Ranji Trophy game against Andhra will be my last day in the sun. It is coming to an end where it all started at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground,” Gambhir said in the more than 11-minute long video.
Gambhir, one of the most successful batsmen for India, has been out of favour with the national team for a while now after a dip in form and last played a Test back in 2016 against England. “The thought has been with me day and night. It has travelled with me on flights like an irritable excess baggage, it has accompanied me to practice sessions, mocking at me like a menacing bowler. On certain other days, it has made my dinner taste horrible,” Gambhir said, elaborating on his thought process leading up to Tuesday’s decision.
Gambhir made 58 Test appearances for India, accumulating 4154 runs at an average of 41.95. His 147 ODI games fetched 5238 runs, while in 37 T20 Internationals, he scored 932 runs.
The other such chapters in his career included being the ICC’s Test batsman of the year in 2009, and being a part of a world No. 1 Indian Test team. “The historic series win in New Zealand and in CB series in Australia will be reflected upon fondly,” he said.