Gautam Gambhir did not have cricket as his first love till he started playing the game

Gautam Gambhir might have been one of India’s most prolific scorers in the 22 yards but the man has no qualms in admitting that cricket was not his first love. The 37-year-old, who quit the game in December and hit a century in his final game which was in the Ranji Trophy, revealed that the army remained his first love even though it was destiny that had driven him to cricket. The former Delhi cricketer has not forgotten his first love though and still runs a foundation that stands by children of soldiers martyred.

Gambhir, who scored over 10,000 runs in international cricket with 20 hundreds and a member of two World Cup-winning squads (World Twenty20 in 2007 and ICC World Cup in 2011), spoke about his passion for the armed forces during the launch of ‘It’s Easy To Be You’, authored by self-proclaimed mind coach Radhika Kawlra Singh.

“It was pure destiny and had I not played Ranji Trophy in 12th (standard), I would have definitely gone into the NDA because that was my first love and it still remains my first love. In fact, my only regret in life is that I couldn’t join the army,” the former cricketer, who also has an impressive record as the captain, said.

Gambhir started his foundation to contribute to army

Gambhir said after getting into cricket, he decided to start making contributions towards the army and he then started the foundation that looks after the children of martyred soldiers. He also said that his foundation is set to expand in times to come. “We are sponsoring 50 children right now, we are going to increase the number to 100.”

Gambhir also said on the occasion that he has been one cricketer who never idolised anybody in his formative years and always wanted to be his own self and that he believes, has been his biggest strength. The former cricketer, who never stops short of speaking out his mind, said he did not read the newly launched book but backed its idea that it is always easy to be oneself.

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