Gambhir maintains top spot

[Prudent]

Congrats! But , how long this will last? :-O

[Riley's Girl]

Good news! Now we're nr 1 on both fronts.:yay:

[gaurav92]

Gambhir at no. 1 in Test Rankings Congrats Gambhir Sources

[Sachinism]

Welcome to Monday :P

[DomainK]

Welcome to Monday :P

:haha::haha::haha:

[gaurav92]

ohhhhhh i didnt see this thread :P

[iHammad]

My 2nd fav Indian batsmen, congratz Gambhir

[hassan_113]

Good player, good temperament and much improved. Well done Gautam, keep up the good work :D

[Kohum]

Gautii - congratulations on the amazing feat - lage raho !!

[Chandan]

I'll post the interview of Gautam Gambhir after he rose to number one in ranking: Standing on top of the world G.S. Vivek Posted: Monday , Jul 20, 2009 at 0402 hrs For someone who was slammed for poor technique and branded a one-day specialist, Gautam Gambhir has come a long way. The first Indian batsman to top the ICC Test rankings in four years, he speaks to G.S. Vivek about his game, his golden run, his critics, his special bond with Gary Kirsten and about the ‘real’ world No1 Virender Sehwag What are your childhood memories of cricket? Did you always enjoy Tests more than ODIs? • As a kid, going out to play cricket with my friends, my dream was always to play Test cricket for India. If you look at the legends of the game, they all have fantastic Test records. I wanted to be like them. All the big names are known by their Test records rather than their one-day or T20 stats. Test cricket was always my parameter of success, and that’s where I wanted to reach the pinnacle. You have been called the Bradman of T20 cricket, but is it true that you’re a purist at heart? • I’m 100 per cent a purist. I’ll have no regrets in exchanging all my ODI and T20 achievements for something in Tests. All forms of the game are different — you want to do well in all of them, that’s a different challenge altogether. But if you ask any cricketer what satisfies him the most, he will not bat an eyelid before saying Test cricket, for it challenges your temperament and skill in equal measure. A batsman has to adapt to the changing scenario every day, and you have to be good over five days to win a game. That is the ultimate test. In that case, being the No 1 Test batsman in the world must be all the more special... • It gives me immense happiness, especially after my technique was questioned during my initial years and when I was branded an ODI batsman. But the biggest satisfaction for any cricketer is to make winning contributions. If you look closely, my good patch has overlapped with India winning three series in a row, and that satisfaction was unmatched. To be able to look at those statistics and say that I played an important role in that is special. Being number one is great, but it doesn’t match up to that. Which is your best Test innings? • Every Test innings is special to me. Some of my better knocks have been just 50-plus, and not centuries. But the 137 at Napier is closest to my heart. It challenged my temperament more than my skill. I had to anchor the team to safety and I was happy to pass the test. Other than that, I especially enjoyed my double hundred against the Australians at the Kotla and the 179 against England at Mohali, where I had to bat the entire day with (Rahul) Dravid. What’s next on your wishlist? • To see India at the top of Test rankings. When I was growing up, India used to struggle overseas in Test cricket. I made it my aim to help the team win more abroad. That is why the series win in New Zealand was so important. Otherwise, I don’t like to set personal milestones such as scoring 10,000 runs or 35 hundreds. They put a lot of pressure because they are always at the back of your mind. I just want to contribute to the team’s victories, and then look back at what I’ve achieved and feel proud about it. Rankings aside, who do you think is the best Test batsman in the world? • Virender Sehwag, no doubt about it. The mental toughness he possesses is admirable. At this level, everybody has his own style, and Sehwag’s technique is unmatched. But, more importantly, what one needs at this level is mental toughness. I’ve watched him closely for a long time, and I’ve learnt so much from him. He knows both how to weather a storm and to kick up a storm with his batting. What was the defining moment of your Test career? • When I went to Sri Lanka (in 2008), I knew it would be my most important series. There had been a lot of talk about how I had been given a lot of opportunities, and I wanted to end that debate once and for all. I was aware that facing (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Ajantha) Mendis in their own backyard could make or break my career — if I handled them well, it would not only give me confidence for tougher tests ahead, but also pave the way for a brighter future. That’s exactly what happened. Right through your career, you have been at the receiving end of criticism. How do you handle that? • It’s frustrating sometimes. For a player, his security in the team is very important. The more you play, the more you are bound to both succeed and fail, but what is important is that the success ratio is higher. In the past, critics have often gotten personal about me, and it’s because of their short-sightedness. They haven’t bothered to look at the overall stats and lazily harped on a couple of failures. It’s easy to sit back and talk, or write, ruining the hard work put in by a player. I believe that those who indulge in such banter are often unsuccessful or mediocre in their own life. What was the secret behind your success over the last season, across all formats? • I think the common link has to be Viru. He’s been my biggest critic. I dread going back into the dressing room after getting dismissed. I’d rather face the fastest fast bowlers hurling bouncers at my head than listen to him pointing out my mistakes (laughs). How important has Gary Kirsten’s role been in your run? • Gary is the best thing to have happened to Indian cricket. For me, personally, he has been a great help. When I went up to him in Sri Lanka, he told me to get the mindset right. He said if there was something wrong with my technique, then I could work on it, but being in the right frame of mind was the key. Being a left-handed opener who has played 100 Test matches, he could understand my needs perfectly. We worked on a lot of angles that can come up during a Test match, and it paid rich dividends. What it took to be the world’s No 1 batsman 74 in 2nd innings 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Galle Match scenario: Despite Virender Sehwag’s double hundred in the first innings, India manage a lead of just 37 runs. Down 1-0 in the series, the visitors need a good start in the second innings to dictate terms. Gambhir top scores with 74 as Sri Lanka face a stiff target of 307. India win after the hosts succumb in the chase. Degree of difficulty: A wearing third-day pitch, Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan in top form and repeated failures of the middle order mean pressure is on the openers. 67 & 104 2nd Test against Australia in Mohali Match scenario: After surviving a scare in the first Test, India are desperate for a good start. Gautam’s 67 helps India seize the initiative as they post a 400-plus score. As the Aussies concede the lead, India look for some quick runs and give their bowlers enough time to take 10 wickets. Gambhir obliges with a 138-ball 104. Degree of difficulty: Following his failure to consolidate on a good start in the first Test, Gambhir needs to do better, as well as blunt the new-ball bowlers, Brett Lee and Peter Siddle. 206 in 1st innings 3rd Test against Australia in Delhi Match scenario: Leading 1-0 in the series, India are wary of the Aussies’ ability to bounce back and aim to slam the door on the visitors. Gambhir makes a double ton as the game ends in a draw. Degree of difficulty: Burden of expectation is heavier as he is playing at home. 179 & 97 2nd Test in Mohali Match scenario: India are 1-0 up in the series, but England dismiss last-match hero Virender Sehwag early to raise hopes. But together with Rahul Dravid, Gambhir bats the visitors out of the game. The left-hander carries on in the same vein in the second innings. Degree of difficulty: Especially in the first innings, no batsman other than Gambhir and Dravid is able to score freely against Flintoff & Co. 137 in 2nd innings 2nd Test against New Zealand in Napier Match scenario: New Zealand seem all set to level the series, as India, following on, trail by over 300 runs. Defence is the only option since the tourists need to survive four sessions. Degree of difficulty: Need to curb his aggressive instinct, avoid the close-in fielders while facing Vettori’s smart spin and do whatever it takes to be in the middle for nearly 11 hours. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not sure if we call this a good interview, nevertheless...

[DomainK]

Superb interview. He just adores Sehwag, doesn't he. Seems Sehwag has playe a major role in his success. I did not know that Sehwag, with his I-give-a-**** attitude, could groom someone like that. Sehwag just rules.

[Lord]

Superb interview. He just adores Sehwag' date=' doesn't he. Seems Sehwag has playe a major role in his success. I did not know that Sehwag, with his I-give-a-**** attitude, could groom someone like that. Sehwag just rules.[/quote'] the adoration is mutual.Remember wen he called Gambhir 'second Wall of India'?n i dont Sehwag has i dont care attitude.he is an absolute team man(which is why he has biggest grin on his face wen somebody else scored a hundred).i am not surprised he groomed Gambhir.he is also smarter than he looks

[rahuliverpool]

Nice interview. Yup, Gauti in all his interviews has always said that he looks up to Sehwag. It also helps that both of them play for Delhi and so are very comfortable with each other. Such is his influence that Gambhir even uses a bat signed by Viru.

[rahuliverpool]

the adoration is mutual.Remember wen he called Gambhir 'second Wall of India'?n i dont Sehwag has i dont care attitude.he is an absolute team man(which is why he has biggest grin on his face wen somebody else scored a hundred).i am not surprised he groomed Gambhir.he is also smarter than he looks

I think what Domaink meant was that he bats/plays his shots with the I-give-a-**** attitude. If a ball is there to be hit, he hits it no matter what the situation is. No doubt, he is an absolute team man and has played an important hand in shaping up Gambhir's career.

[Guest Shivani]

Gambhir No.1 Test batsman again Star India opener Gautam Gambhir on Monday became the number one Test batsman again after Kumar Sangakkara and Michael Clarke slipped down the rankings ladder because of their none-too-impressive form in the recent matches. Gautam Gambhir Gambhir, who was ranked third before the chart was updated, moved up two rungs after Sangakkara, who was leading the chart, failed to fire in the first Test against New Zealand at Galle. Clarke could have benefitted from Sangakkara's loss but the Australian vice-captain's disappointing showing in the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval has opened the door for Gambhir, who returned to the number one spot. Sangakkara, who had been top prior to the Galle Test, scored eight and 46 in the match, which was not enough to keep him at the top. Clarke could only manage a total of three runs in the Oval Test, a disappointing return for him and one that drops him three places to fifth in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen. Gambhir became the top ranked batsman in July this year. For Ashes winning England side, off-spinner Graeme Swann has jumped 17 places and into the top 10 in the ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers for the first time in his career. The 30-year-old took eight wickets in the match underlying his position as England's top slow bowler and moving to 10th in the latest rankings. Another England bowler to make an upward move is man of the match Stuart Broad, whose inspired five-wicket haul in the first innings set up the victory for the home team as Australia collapsed to 160 all out. Broad gains 11 places to 13th spot in the rankings, level with Australia's fast bowler Peter Siddle, who moves up four places after another consistent performance from the 24-year-old Victorian. The bowling list is still headed by South Africa's Dale Steyn with Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka second and Australia's Mitchell Johnson hanging on to third. Harbhajan Singh (5th) and Zaheer Khan (8th) are the two Indian bowlers in the top 10 chart. Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena has moved up two places to seventh in the batting list following his first-innings century against New Zealand. Australia's Ricky Ponting may have scored a battling half-century in the second innings but his overall match contribution did not save him from losing two places as he slips to ninth in the rankings. Victorious captain Andrew Strauss was the stand-out England batsman of the series and his two half-centuries at the Oval were enough to move him up three spots to 12th position, level with South Africa's AB de Villiers.

[Kashmir_boy]

brillant man is a legend!!! still top on both odi and test!!!!:icflove:

[King Tendulkar]

:two_thumbs_up:Good thread

[iHammad]

One of my favourite Indian batsmen. He has good style

[Lord]

no.1 batsman in test,1& 2 in ODIs ,no wonder we r doing so well

[Guest Shivani]

:icflove: