India's great Gambhir hits a 'dream run' during 2009

Dubai: It's been a great year for Gautam Gambhir who has clinched a place among the best batsmen in the world today.

According to a recent statistical report, Gambhir scores a century every 3.4 Tests, and in the last 25 innings he has scored seven centuries and seven half centuries for an average of 77.

I was fortunate to watch him during the Champions Trophy at the Centurion SuperSport Park in South Africa, where he cracked a brilliant 57 against Pakistan.

India were chasing a huge target of 302 and when Gambhir was at the wicket, stroking beautifully, the target looked easy to achieve.

The comfort with which he tackles the best of bowlers is a treat to watch. He hit seven boundaries in that match and two sixes, all immaculately timed to perfection. Once he got out, India lost all hope of winning that match.

Just before the finals of the Champions Trophy, the ICC announced their annual awards and Gambhir was adjudged the best Test player of the year.

When I approached him after winning the award, wearing a big smile on his face and an oversized blazer, he said, "It has been a dream run for me."

Good to be on top

On how he'd shaped himself for such an honour, he said: "No one can expect to reach the top or plan it either. It just happens. But it is really very exciting to be on top."

Gambhir has improved by leaps and bounds not only in stroke play but also in his temperament. During India's tour of New Zealand in 2009, he cleared all doubts about his class and helped India win in Hamilton as well as save a match that was almost lost in Napier.

The hard work put in to get rid of his weaknesses and master his techniques has started to show.

Gambhir can get quite philosophical and his answer to my query on how he handles the pressures of facing the world's fastest bowlers revealed it.

"To be successful, you have to live in the present. That is the most important factor to do well and also gear up for the challenges ahead of you."

Occupying the opening position in the batting order with some of the greats in the Indian team has not been easy.

His closeness with his Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag has helped him a lot. It was Sehwag who helped him overcome the pressures of playing with the best.

"It is really great to have Sehwag at the other end; whenever I bat with him, I feel very relaxed because I can always walk up to him and discuss my batting," he said.

Sehwag too adores Gambhir and has recently admitted that he is India's best opening batsman today.

Gambhir's foot movement and his balance to play the pull and hook shot can only be compared to Brian Lara. Watching him play in his early matches, it did not look like he was playing his shots confidently.

Today, he plays every shot with such authority as if they are all his favourite shots. He has been picking the gaps so beautifully that fielders can only watch the ball race to the boundary in a flash.

Left-handers: Comparing the greats

There are four left-handers among the top ten in ICC rankings for the best Test batsmen — Gautam Gambhir, Kumar Sangakkara, Graeme Smith and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

A comparative study will reveal how fast Gambhir has progressed to the top ten. He is the youngest among all of them and has played the least number of Tests yet has the best average.

Gambhir turned 28 in October and has played in only 27 Test matches but averages 56.73 and has hit eight hundreds and ten half centuries.

Sangakkara is 32 and a veteran of 88 Tests. He averages 55.10 but has hit 21 centuries and 32 fifties. Smith will turn 29 in February but is also a veteran of 77 Tests but averages 50.33 with 18 centuries and 25 half centuries.

Chanderpaul is the oldest at 35 and has played the most with 122 Tests. He averages 48.75 but has hit 21 centuries and 52 half centuries.