MS Dhoni is a fantastic cricketer and human being: Gautam Gambhir

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir who made a much awaited in the Indian Test team in the Vizag Test did well to score a half century in the second inning but KL Rahul was fit again for the next match and the team opted for the regular opener. He was back to domestic cricket leading Delhi in the Ranji Trophy but his side didn’t manage to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Gambhir went live on his Facebook page to interact with fans and answer their questions. He promised that he will try to answer every question with utmost honesty. He talked about a variety of topics from World Cup wins to his favorite food, knock and his equation with MS Dhoni. The first question was on missing out the century in the World Cup 2011 final. Gambhir was bowled on 97 while the team was on verge of victory.

“I know it was disappointing to miss the hundred in World Cup final but I feel the country which is obsessed with hundreds I thought people could remember 97 because we ended up on the winning side. For me, I think being on the winning side is far more important and gives me far more happiness than scoring individual hundred because no one remembers that Mahela Jayawardene scored a hundred and ended on the losing side. I would have taken it if somebody told me I would get out on 97 but the team would win.” Gambhir said.

Talking about the upcoming IPL season he said, “I am very excited for IPL 2016 as it’s a great opportunity for me and KKR that if we try and win in 2017 we become the first side to win it thrice.”

Then there was the famous question about his equation with Indian limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and whether he has a rivalry with him. “There is no rivalry between me and Dhoni (MS Dhoni) I feel whenever we have played for India irrespective of whether we have had difference of opinion but our ultimate aim has always been to try and make our country proud to try and to try and win. So even if there are differences of opinion that happens in every sphere of life whether its family, whether it’s any profession but till the time you are goal is to help the country win and it is the same I don’t think there will be any differences.” Gambhir said.

He also added, “For me I think he is a great player, a fantastic player, and a fantastic human being as well and we have enjoyed some of the best moments of our life together whether it was 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup or for that matter being the No.1 Test side in the world. So I think some of the best moments of our professional life we have shared together and our ambition and our goal has always been the same.”

His favorite food is Delhi’s staple Rajma chawal. “I love eating Rajma chawal when I am at home and that is my favorite dish.” The 35-year-old said.

He also took the opportunity to thank his fans who have constantly supported him through highs and lows. “My fans have been amazing, they have been the biggest support I have had, they are the people who pushed me to achieve whatever I have and keep pushing me even now and they are the only people who I try push myself for to make them proud because they are the biggest motivation. Playing for the country itself is the biggest motivation but the way they have supported me in my good and bad times it has been unbelievable strength.”

A fan said he was the hero for both the World Cup wins in 2007 and 2011, Gauti corrected him and said, “Thanks but it’s not me who is the real hero for both the World Cups. It’s not about one individual it’s the team that wins and that has always been my take about coaches, captains or individual players it’s the team that is far more important than individual.”

“I always say coach, captain and players are only successful because it’s the team that makes them successful.” Gambhir said.

“The platform never matters to me till the point I am playing I want to play well and win for the team that has been my only motivation. Because if I start thinking about platforms I won’t be able to do justice to the team I am playing with whether it’s Ranji Trophy, IPL or India. I always try to contribute to the team’s cause.”

“My favorite actor is Amir Khan. Whatever movie he has made has been absolutely fantastic. There is some X-factor about those movies as well. Even if he makes one movie in a year or one in two years it’s about quality work more than quantity.”

“The best bowler I have faced in my career is Muralitharan (Muttiah Muralitharan). I think he has been the toughest opponent I have faced it’s a great challenge whenever you are playing against such a great bowler it is always a challenge to try and come on top of it and I think I have always enjoyed challenges. The biggest challenge I have faced in my career was facing him in Sri Lanka when I was making my comeback.”

“My favorite inning has been Napier, Test cricket is something people keep relating me with two World Cup wins but my favorite innings is Napier. It is the closest to my heart, I have always enjoyed playing Tests. Napier was something that is very very special to me. In that innings I did something nobody expected me to do because I am someone who is very impatient and playing for two and a half days was complete opposite of what people relate me with.”

“I love watching football, it is my biggest stress buster and I support Manchester United. My favorite footballer is Cristiano Ronaldo”

I have got a lot of friends in cricket. I have spent a lot of time with Viru (Virender Sehwag), Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh), Zak (Zaheer Khan), Ishant (Ishant Sharma), Munaf (Munaf Patel) we have had some great moments together so those are the memories which will always be with me and stay close to my heart.

Here is the video of Gautam Gambhir answering questions from his fans: