Gautam Gambhir wants to emulate efforts of 2009

GAUTAM Gambhir has ended the year as he started it -- with a bang. The Indian left-hand batsman would look back at Year 2009 with fond memories

Gautam Gambhir wants to emulate efforts of 2009

GAUTAM Gambhir has ended the year as he started it -- with a bang. The Indian left-hand batsman would look back at Year 2009 with fond memories. He started with a brilliant performance in the one-day series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka where he helped India win 4-1 with an aggregate of 262 runs. The highlight being his innings of 150 in the fourth ODI at the Premadasa Stadium.

As an icing on the cake, he helped India clinch the return five-match ODI series with another blazing 150 in the fourth game on Thursday for an unassailable 3-1 lead. Gambhir has made scoring big a habit whatever be the format or the situation. And, he's proved his mettle when his team needs it the most.

He served another reminder of his value in the decisive game at the Eden Gardens. It was a weakened Indian batting line-up that took on Lanka in the absence of the suspended Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the injured Yuvraj Singh. Chasing a target of 316, the two most experienced batsmen of the team, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, were back in the hut at the score of 23. The wicket had some bite too.

Love responsibility
It was a moment that would have tested any batsman. Gambhir said it was just the situation he was waiting for.

"In the 90 ODIs I have played, I always look forward to take the responsibility of finishing the game for India. In yesterday's match, two of our best finishers -- Dhoni and Yuvraj -- were not there and I wanted to take the responsibility of doing their job. I am happy I was able to achieve that," Gambhir told MiD DAY yesterday, still savouring his effort that helped India get home with seven-wickets to spare.

Gambhir's rise to one of the mainstays of Indian batting hasn't been easy. There were many doubters whether he had it in him to be successful at the international level. With each innings he has gone on to prove himself on every count.

One of the features of his game has been the way he has adapted at the frequent changes in his batting position. The Test opener has batted with equal fluency and authority when pushed down the order. His unbeaten 150 in the fourth ODI came at No 3.

Number game
"Every professional cricketer has to be able to adapt to any situation or any format of the game. I love to open but we have the two best batsmen in the world as our opening pair in ODIs (Tendulkar and Sehwag). The team always comes first for me and I will do whatever is in the best interest of the team," said Indian cricket's golden boy.

In 2009, he aggregates 848 runs in 26 ODIs. With the last game of the season at his homeground, Delhi's Feroze Shah Kotla, one can expect Gambhir to go for the 1000-run mark as he did last year.
"It's not about thinking of doing something special (at your homeground). I will look to do the same processes which got me success at Eden Gardens and rest should take care of itself," said Gambhir.

Having achieved everything in 2009. He's the ICC Test player of the year; BCCI's player of the year; his team is No 1 in Test rankings. So what's his goal for 2010 u2013 Take India to the No 1 spot in the ODIs?
"We want to keep winning matches and series. If we do that the rankings will take care of itself," he said.

Like 2009
Any personal goals? "I would like to keep doing the same things and hope that the coming year is also like 2009."
And, a strong finish to 2009 will only add to his confidence? "I always had the confidence," Gambhir signed off.