Gautam Gambir

An Indian opening batsman. He is the fourth Indian to score double century in tour game at home , the previous three were Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vangsarkar and Sachine Tendulkar. He is the only Indian Batsman to score more than 300 in four consecutive Test series. Gambhir, who won the ICC Test Player of Year award at the LG ICC Awards in Johannesburg in October, scored 167 and featured in a 233-run first wicket stand with Virender Sehwag who himself has climbed four places to return to the top 20 in 19th place. Gambhir was picked up by the Delhi Daredevils franchise in the first player auction of the Indian Premier League for a price of US$725,000 a year.
Gambhir's second coming at the international level has been a brilliant blessing for India. In his earlier avatar Gambhir was classified as a batsman who made the cut in the limited-overs format due to his ability to improvise, but one who lacked the technique to succeed in Test cricket. The year 2008 changed all that. Gambhir transformed his limited-overs success into cricket's traditional form, with Test runs in difficult circumstances against tough opponents both home and away.
Some of those runs were scored with India in a strong position and pressing for a win, while others came in backs-to-the-walls situations that required him to bat long periods. He managed both superbly. On India's successful tour of New Zealand in 2009 Gambhir removed some question marks over his temperament and batting outside the subcontinent. He scored a series-topping 445 runs on the tour and his contributions were massive - Gambhir set up a win in Hamilton, saved a match that looked lost in Napier, and batted New Zealand out in Wellington - the three main jobs an opener is expected to do. His feats since 2008 helped him bag the Arjuna Award.