‘I wanted to make it special for him’ – Gautam Gambhir recalls giving his Player of the Match award to Virat Kohli

India’s batting juggernaut Virat Kohli scored his maiden ODI century against the Sri Lankan side in December 2009. In that match, the Indian side was chasing a stiff target of 316 for victory, and the ‘Men in Blue’ romped home with seven wickets to spare. Batting at number four, Kohli slammed 107 off 114 deliveries.

Besides Kohli, veteran Indian batter Gautam Gambhir scored a rollicking 150 not out for the ‘Men in Blue’ in that match, and forged a scintillating stand of 224 runs with Kohli. At the end of the game, Gambhir won the Player of the Match award, but he gave the award to Kohli. The southpaw has now opened up on the gesture.

The former cricketer stated that he did not do something that he should not have done. Adding that Kohli might score 100 international hundreds, Gambhir stated that the first international hundred is special for any player.

“I didn’t do anything I shouldn’t have done. You might go on to score 100 international hundreds, which I am sure he will because that’s the kind of player he is but you will always remember your first international hundred. I remember my first international hundred that was in Bangladesh and the first ODI hundred against Sri Lanka,” said Gambhir in a conversation with Jatin Sapru.

I am not surprised with what Virat Kohli has achieved: Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir also added that he wanted to make it special for Virat Kohli when he scored his first century and that is the reason why he gave the award to him. Stating that he is not surprised with what Kohli has achieved over the years, Gambhir concluded by saying that the 33-year-old will go on to achieve much more in the future as well.

“So I wanted to make it special for him and that’s not something I or anyone else shouldn’t have done. That’s the kind of nature I have and that’s the kind of player he was. And what he has done, I am absolutely not surprised with what he’s achieved, and he’ll go on to achieve many more things,” concluded Gautam Gambhir.