Before the 2011 World Cup final, I had a brief chat with Gautam on the phone. I gave him my blessings and asked him to give it his best. Once the team had won the match he was so excited that he could barely express his feelings. After all you don’t win a World Cup everyday. I have to confess that my heart skipped a beat after Gautam missed his century in Mumbai. It was as if I had just frozen. But I quickly recovered because I realised my son’s contribution, an invaluable 97 in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka, has been given the importance it deserves. Gautam has done his job and that is what matters to me. If my son’s contribution brings glory to the nation, then so be it.
Even today when I think of Gautam as a child, tears trickle down my face even as it lights up with joy. I remember it was in the early ’90s and like other children of his age, Gautam enjoyed playing cricket on the streets.
I still recall Gautam and his friends smashing windows of cars while attempting to bat. As a kid Gautam would tell me about the rules of street cricket matches. I would always have a grin on my face and listen to him intently. He used our house to denote a boundary (four runs). My husband Deepak Gambhir and my brother Pawan Gulati would discuss with me whether Gautam’s interest in street cricket was a reflection of his passion. It was during this time that Pawan suggested that we consider enrolling Gautam in a cricket academy. After a few days of research on cricket academies for children, Pawan showed me a newspaper advertisement of Sanjay Bhardawaj’s cricket academy for children at Springdale School. My husband and I bought a cricket bat for `450 for his training at the academy. Gautam’s coach Mr Sanjay would always give us feedback.
The first impression the coach had of Gautam was that this boy was a natural player. He informed me that Gautam was very aggressive and had the habit of accepting challenges on the field, something that still reflects in his game. Gautam’s coach then told me that Gautam has it in him and he should never give up on cricket. At the academy, Gautam started as a medium pace bowler, then shifted to leg spin and finally focused on batting.
Gautam was always very friendly, disciplined and dedicated as long as he was on the cricket field. However, he could be quite naughty and played pranks when off the field. But his naughtiness never came in the way of his dedication to the game. Once during a parent-teacher meet, the head of sports at his school who has known Gautam since he was six told me that “there are introverts, and there is Gautam.” His teachers at Modern School would tell me that Gautam never gave away what he had in his mind. He showed what he was thinking through actions.
I thank God that there were enough people who understood his strengths and channelled his energy in the right direction. However, like many other cricketers even my son had to overcome many obstacles to reach that pinnacle. My son was once dubbed as “too short” to be picked for the Indian team. He had to prove his critics wrong from his junior days. I remember, like his batting talent, both his shyness and fighting spirit, the two qualities that have marked him out from the rest of the team, were visible early in his childhood.
The first major disappointment for my son came when he was ignored by the national selectors despite notching back-to-back double hundreds against the touring Zimbabweans in 2002. I clearly remember how disappointed he was that day. Gautam told his coach that he vowed to score so many runs that it would become impossible for the selectors to ignore him. He told me that one day he would be one of the greatest of batsmen.
The good days were awaiting my son. It was after the 2007 World Cup that Gautam was picked for the One Day International series during India’s 2007 tour of Bangladesh. Gautam would tell me that if he performed more consistently, he could cement his place as a One Day International opener in the Indian cricket team.
It was in 2008 that Gautam finally solidified his place in the Indian Test team with a string of high scores.
We recognised his talent early on and did everything in our capacity to support and encourage him. Whatever he has achieved today has been because of his efforts and self-belief. He loves challenges and it shows on the field. He has struggled and seen a lot of dejection before he became a permanent fixture in the side.
Now I want Gautam to get married. He had earlier promised me that he would consider proposals for marriage after the World Cup. However, with his commitment to the Kolkata Knight Riders, he has got busy again.
As told to SYED ASIM ALI