Recently a film has come in Bollywood, that video of Vicky-Vidya. But, we will show you that video of Gautam Gambhir. We are mentioning that video on 14th October only because it is Gautam Gambhir's birthday. Gautam Gambhir, born 42 years ago in 1981, had done a great feat when he was 28 years old. Thanks to his amazing feat, the Indian team had done something in the history of cricket, which had not been done for 41 years. Let us know the same story of Gautam Gambhir on his 42nd birthday.

Story of Napier, Gautam's 'serious' cricket

The year was 2009. Team India was on a tour of New Zealand. A 3 test series was played on this tour. India won the first test played in Hamilton by 10 wickets. After that the caravan of Team India reached Napier for the second test. In the Napier Test, thanks to Jesse Ryder's double century and Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum's century, New Zealand declared the first innings at 619 runs for 9 wickets. In reply, India's first innings was reduced to 305 runs and it had to follow on.

That video of Gautam Gambhir standing firm for Team India

New Zealand's intention was to settle Hamilton's score by defeating India by an innings margin. But, Gautam Gambhir stood as a wall between his intentions. What was not shown - patience, passion, determination, courage and passion - Gautam Gambhir's Napier innings was the most equipped. We are talking about the video of that inning, which one feels like watching again and again.

Gautam Gambhir played a marathon knock against New Zealand at Napier. This knocked helped India in successfully drawing the Test & India won a Test Series in New Zealand after 41 long years.@GautamGambhir#HappyBirthdayGautamGambhirpic.twitter.com/yOLBC76KZw

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAUTAM GAMBHIR (@guru_gauti) October 13, 2024

The most special thing about Gautam Gambhir's innings in the Napier Test was his fighting spirit. To save the team from facing defeat, Gautam Gambhir remained at the crease for 13 hours. He batted for a total of 643 minutes and scored 137 runs in a marathon inning of 436 balls. When Gambhir returned to the pavilion after playing this courageous innings, his fellow players welcomed him with thunderous applause in the dressing room.

Indian dressing room welcoming Gautam Gambhir after his marathon 436-ball, 643-minute 137 which helped India save a Test against New Zealand in Napier in 2009. Look at those happy faces. His impact!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAUTAM GAMBHIR pic.twitter.com/naMNZlCS9l

— Team Gautam Gambhir (@gautamgambhir97) October 13, 2022

Team India had seen such a day after 41 years

That marathon innings of Gambhir is counted among the special innings of Indian Test cricket history. And, this is because that innings had saved India from a big defeat. That innings had boosted the morale of Team India. With the same high spirits, Team India achieved the historic feat of winning the Test series after 41 years on New Zealand soil by drawing the third Test played in Wellington.