[Watch] When Gautam Gambhir bowled some leg-spin to Kevin Pietersen in an ODI against England in 2006
Current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir is primarily remembered for his prolific batting career, amassing over 10,000 runs in international cricket. However, there was a rare occasion when he bowled for India.
Gambhir got the chance to bowl in the second ODI of the seven-match series against England in 2006 at the Nahar Singh Stadium in Faridabad.
After winning the toss, England chose to bat. Andrew Strauss (61) and Matt Prior (33) made solid contributions while Owais Shah (0), captain Andrew Flintoff (5), and Paul Collingwood (5) failed to leave their mark.
Gambhir took the ball for the first time in international cricket during the 38th over of England's innings. He bowled leg-spin, and Kevin Pietersen hit him for two boundaries, conceding 13 runs in the over.
Here’s a video of Gautam Gambhir bowling:
Pietersen scored 71 off 87 balls but England were bowled out for 226. In response, Gambhir contributed with 29 off 45 balls.
However, it was Suresh Raina who stole the show, remaining unbeaten on 81 off 89 balls, with eight boundaries and one six, as India won the match by four wickets with one over to spare. India went on to claim the series 5-1, with one match abandoned.
Gautam Gambhir also bowled once in a Test match against England in 2012
Gautam Gambhir also bowled once in his Test career, which came against the same opposition, England, in 2012. It was during the final match of the four-game series, held at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur.
England batted first and scored 330. In response, India declared their innings at 326-9, with Virat Kohli top-scoring with 103. During England's second innings, Gambhir bowled two overs, conceding just four runs. England finished at 352-4, and the match ended in a draw, with the visitors winning the series 2-1.
While Gambhir bowled just twice in his international career, he made a significant impact with the bat. In 37 T20Is, he scored 932 runs, including seven fifties. The Delhi-born cricketer played a pivotal role in the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, scoring 75 runs as India won the match by just five runs.
In ODIs, Gambhir accumulated 5,238 runs in 147 matches, with 34 fifties and 11 centuries to his name. He was also a key performer in the 2011 ODI World Cup final, where he narrowly missed a well-deserved century, scoring 97 off 122 balls. India went on to win the game, clinching the title after 28 years.
In Test cricket, Gambhir featured in 58 matches, amassing 4,154 runs at an average of 41.95, including 22 fifties and nine centuries.