Gautam Gambhir sticks to his promise, remains #unbeaten in his final game

Ranji Trophy: Gautam Gambhir scored an unbeaten 92 on his last Ranji Trophy game against Andhra Pradesh at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

The opportunity to watch Gautam Gambhir bat for the final time sprang life into the Ranji Trophy Group B fixture between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh at the Feroz Kotla on Friday and the two-time World Cup champion did not disappoint. He remained unbeaten on 92 at close of play on day 2, carrying the burden of Delhi on his shoulders for one final time.

In normal circumstances, the day should have belonged to Andhra’s Ricky Bhui for single-handedly taking his team to 390 by scoring 187 off 270 balls. But hardly anything was normal on Friday. First, Delhi took almost an entire session to claim the final three wickets of Andhra making Gambhir the batsman wait longer than usual.

When the moment finally arrived, the Andhra players gave a guard of honour to the former India opener, who was playing his last first-class match.

It was just the beginning of a great day for Gambhir. The sun was shining bright in the middle of Kotla with Gambhir at the centrestage, albeit for one final time. The left hander got three lives early in his innings and when he was batting on 15, a man came charging down from the Mohinder Amarnath stands to offer his tributes to the man who was the highest run scorer in the finals of India's two World Cup victories. Gambhir was more than happy to oblige his fan, who was later escorted off the ground by guards.

With the rub of the green going his way, Gambhir slowly started to find his footing in Delhi’s quest to secure 3 points by taking the first innings lead, without which their hopes of making it to the knockout stages of this season could turn gloomier.

Gambhir’s opening partner Hiten Dalal was the first to reach fifty and Gambhir soon followed, much to the delight of his wife Natasha and daughters Aazeen and Anaiza, who were equally anxious in the stands.

The Andhra players were in as much awe of Gambhir as the small crowd was. They gave tow more guard of honours to Gambhir when he was about to walk back to the dressing room at tea and another one at close of play.

The 37-year-old hit 8 fours in his 92* which took Delhi to 190 for 1. Captain Dhruv Shorey was batting on 39.

When the sun was about to set over Feroz Shah Kotla, Gambhir had kept his promise. He had remained unbeaten like he had said while announcing his retirement couple of nights ago.