Gautam Gambhir Announces Retirement From Cricket, His Video Is Sure To Make You Emotional

Former Team India batsman Gautam Gambhir has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.  

The left-hander took to Twitter on 4 December and wrote that the ‘most difficult decisions’ are taken with the ‘heaviest of hearts’. He continued that with a ‘heavy heart’, he has decided to make the ‘announcement that he dreaded’ all his life. 

READ: WATCH: Gautam Gambhir Makes Fun Of Himself After Embarrassing Run-out

Gambhir was a part of the winning squads of both the World T20 in 2007 and World Cup in 2011. His knocks in the finals of both the tournaments are considered crucial in the team emerging victorious. He also won two IPL trophies as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Gambhir played 58 Tests and scored 4154 runs, at an average of 41.95 with nine hundreds and 22 fifties. His opening pairing with Virender Sehwag in proving India with the best starts has been pivotal. He scored 5238 runs at an average of 39.68 in 147 ODIs with 11 hundreds and 34 fifties. 

The upcoming Ranji trophy match against Andhra Pradesh at his home ground Feroz Shah Kotla will be Gautam Gambhir’s last match as a cricketer. 

In an emotional message on Facebook, Gambhir said, “The thought has been with me, travelled everywhere like an ‘irritable excess baggage.’” He said the retirement thought has accompanied him to his practice sessions, mocked him ‘like a menacing bowler’ and made his dinner taste horrible.

Gambhir also said each time he got out for India, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils, the  ‘sharp, disturbing noise‘ would shout ‘It is over, Gauti.’ He also said he’d slap himself hard after his 3 ducks in a row in 2014 IPL, dreadful tour of England, 2016 when he was down on his knees and how the voice came back to haunt him when he was dropped after the Rajkot test against England.  

But he wanted to beat the noise, and not get knocked down and so asked his personal trainers to be more severe on him and he ate as if he was bankrupt.  

"Despite all the aches, pains, fears and failure, I won’t mind a repeat of this in my next life too, but obviously with a few more wins for India, few more hundreds and maybe a few five-wicket hauls as well,” Gambhir said. 

"2 worlds cups and highest run-getter in finals of both are stuff that dreams are made of. I had this dream to win it for you all. I think someone up there was writing my script, but he has now run out of his ink."

He still fondly remembered the 'fascinating chapters,' of being a part of the No 1 Test team in the world and being awarded the ICC Test Batsman of the year in 2009.  He cherished the series in New Zealand and Australia, but hoped the current team can do better down under.

The cricketer also shared how he came back after a good domestic season in 2017 in this year’s  IPL. However, after six games of Delhi Daredevils, the thought was back., “Yes, my time was up.” “After 15 years of playing for my country, I want to retire from this ‘beautiful game,” he shared.  

Gautam thanked the supporters, who he felt were partners and not ‘fans or crowds.’ He conveyed his gratitude to all those associated with the city of Kolkata during his time as the captain of KKR. He thanked the curators, net bowlers and his coaches Sanjay Bhardwaj, Parthasarathy Sharma, Justin Langer and Noddy Holder. He also said that the thing he’ll miss the most will be the camaraderie of the Indian team, who he termed as ‘one big family.’ 

Gambhir also thanked his family, his wife, ‘two little angels’ and other members of the family. He praised his ‘talent scout’, his mother who enrolled him in a cricket school. He also apologised to her for being a ‘jerkhead.’ The left-hander also remembered his father taking the pressure that he went through by not watching when he was batting. He thanked his ‘mama’,  ‘mami’, ‘nana’ and nani’ (uncles and grandparents). About sister Ekta, he spoke about not being present for Rakhi, but hoped she had the bragging rights. He also thanked his friends Vivek and Dinesh. 

His message to his wife Natasha was to be ready as a ‘retired husband is a wife’s full-time job’. He also said he wants to shed the ex-cricketer tag to do something in cricket and beyond.  

READ: "Who'll Pay This Fine?": Gautam Gambhir Slams Arvind Kejriwal And BJP After NGT Fines Delhi Government For Rising Air Pollution

Gambhir said how his ‘current worry’ is to take his elder daughter to buy a yellow dress and join the younger one who wants to play with the dogs.      

He stated that the next Ranji trophy game against Andhra Pradesh will be his last, to end it at where it all started, at Feroz Shah Kotla.  

Gautam Gambhir concluded by saying that he always valued timing and that he knew the time was just right. Watch the video here.