An emotional Gautam Gambhir was at a loss of words when he was declared the ICC Test Player of the Year on Thursday. This has been a dream come true for him, he said on receiving the prestigious award.
“It’s a great feeling to be rated the best Test batsman of the year. It is nice to find this award come India’s way after Rahul Dravid, who is truly one of the legends of the game had won it in 2004,” was the opening statement of his acceptance speech.
Looking back at his performance, Gambhir said: “The last one year has changed my life and I am very happy the way things have changed for me. Frankly I never thought I would be sitting here with this trophy.”
Gambhir scored nearly 1300 runs during the year. “I feel this award is special because if you would have seen me the year before I was not even in the Test squad. With Wasim Jaffer's form, I never thought there will be a slot for me as an opener in the team. But I am happy by the way things changed for me,” he said.
Dedicating the award to his family and coach, he said, “ My coach Sanjay Bharadwaj and my family have had great faith in me and they have been my biggest support, especially when I was losing faith in myself and wondering if I would ever be able to stage a comeback. I never expected to play Test cricket or One-day cricket after my bad run.
“Now that the worst phase is over, hopefully I will continue to get their support in future,” he added.
Which knock does he reckon as his best? “Every knock you play for your country is important and I consider every innings that I have contributed to my team’s success as the best. However, the double hundred I got against Australia was special. Then there is the match-saving knock in New Zealand where we eventually ended up winning the Test series. It was a great feeling then batting for two and half days with Sachin (Tendulkar), Laxman and Dravid all contributing and finally winning the match and series.”
The dashing opener is delighted to share the dressing room with a legend like Sachin Tendulkar. “It is every Indian kid's dream to play alongside Tendulkar and share a dressing room with him. So that was again a dream come true for me. I've also been lucky to play with some of the other Indian greats like (Anil) Kumble, Dravid, Laxman and (Virender) Sehwag. In fact, Sehwag has helped me a lot in my success,” he confessed.
Gautam played a brilliant knock against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy but was unfortunate to get run out at a crucial stage of the game. “It is very disappointing that we did not reach the semifinal, especially when we were one of the top ranked teams at the start of the tournament. However that is what life is all about. But I do regret not finishing the game myself,” he said.
Gautam will have to console himself with this award. “It is great that your performance is being recognised by the ICC and throughout the world. That gives me a lot of confidence as well as motivation...although you don’t need motivation to play for the country.”
Now that he has won India’s Arjuna award and the ICC award, what is his next goal? “Beyond awards and records, it is playing and winning matches for my country which is the biggest award. I will be happiest if I can contribute to my team's win and keep the country’s flag flying high,” he said before posing with his trophy for photographers.
