Gautam Gambhir birthday: Fans remember ex-India opener's T20 World Cup 2007 heroics

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian opening batsmen of all time. He formed a destructive opening pair with his Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag at the top for India across all formats during his playing days. Gautam Gambhir was also a crucial member of the triumphant Indian line-up that lifted the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup trophies.

The stylish left-handed batsman turned 39 on Wednesday, October 14. To commemorate the occasion of 39th Gautam Gambhir birthday, fans remember his memorable match-winning knock against Pakistan in the final of the 2007 T20 World Cup in Johannesburg.

BCCI's wish on 39th Gautam Gambhir birthday

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Gautam Gambhir birthday: Fans get nostalgic over cricketer’s 2007 T20 World Cup final knock

Fans of the cricketer took to social media accounts on Gautam Gambhir’s birthday to remember some of his most memorable knocks from his playing days. The former Indian opening batsman was known to be India’s rescue man in times of crisis in crunch games. For instance, he was India’s top-scorer in the finals of both tournaments, 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup.

Among the many knocks fans recalled on Gautam Gambhir’s birthday, they also extensively recollected memories of his 75-run effort against Pakistan in the 2007 T20 World Cup final. Here is a look at some of the fans who got nostalgic over the cricketer’s contribution in an important chapter of the Indian cricketing folklore.

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Gautam Gambhir World T20 final: A throwback

India faced Pakistan in the final of the T20 World Cup 2007 on September 24 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Opening the batting for India, Gautam Gambhir scored a brisk 75 off just 54 balls in an innings laced with eight boundaries and two sixes. His knock enabled the ‘Men in Blue’ to post a competitive 157-5 in their 20 overs, which ultimately proved enough as a young Indian unit defeated their arch-rivals by five runs.

A look into Gautam Gambhir career stats

The Gautam Gambhir career stats composes of some staggering numbers. He has represented the Indian side in 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is between 2003 and 2016. In Tests, the Delhi-based batsman aggregated 4,154 runs and in ODIs and T20Is, he compiled another 5,238 and 932 runs respectively. The Gautam Gambhir career stats also composes of 20 centuries and 56 half-centuries across international formats.

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Image source: ICC Twitter