Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar took to social media to wish former cricketer and politician Gautam Gambhir a heartfelt and joyous birthday. In his warm message, Tendulkar not only conveyed his good wishes but also shared a fond memory of Gautam Gambhir’s contribution to Indian cricket.
“Sending warm birthday wishes to the individual whose pivotal role in the T20 World Cup against the same opposition in 2007 is etched in cricket history. Have a great year Gauti,” Tendulkar expressed. The message encapsulated the significance of Gambhir’s role in India’s historic victory in the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup, where India triumphed over Pakistan in a thrilling final.
Gautam Gambhir, born on October 14, 1981, boasts an illustrious career that spans across all formats of the game. Beyond his exploits on the cricket field, Gambhir is also known for his contributions to the political arena. He currently serves as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, a testament to his commitment to the nation.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the sport and society, Gambhir received the prestigious Padma Shri award from the Government of India in 2019. The Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian honor in India and acknowledges individuals who have made remarkable contributions in various fields.
“Hailing from an influential business family in Delhi, Gambhir carved a niche for himself as a left-handed opening batsman, representing Delhi in domestic cricket. He further showcased his leadership skills by captaining teams like the Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His leadership prowess was evident when he steered Kolkata Knight Riders to their first IPL title in 2012, followed by another victory in 2014”.
Gautam Gambhir’s cricketing career is studded with remarkable achievements. He stands as the only Indian and one of only four international cricketers to have scored centuries in five consecutive Test matches. He holds the distinction of being the sole Indian batsman to score over 300 runs in four consecutive Test series. Additionally, he ranks as the sixth-highest run-scorer for India in Twenty20 Internationals, as of April 2018.
Notably, in the quarter-finals of the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Gambhir achieved the remarkable milestone of scoring his 10,000th run in List A cricket. Later, in December 2018, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, marking the end of a prolific and celebrated career.
“His contributions to the sport and society have been acknowledged through various awards and accolades. Gambhir was conferred the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting honor, in 2008. In the same year, he held the top position in the ICC Test rankings as the number-one ranked batsman. In recognition of his exceptional performance, he was also honored with the ICC Test Player of the Year award”.
Currently, Gautam Gambhir serves as the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, imparting his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of cricketers.
