Gautam Gambhir completes 6000 runs in Ranji Trophy

Courtesy: PTI

New Delhi: Gautam Gambhir's bid to make yet another India comeback got a huge boost on Monday after he hit 42nd first-class hundred during second day's play of Delhi-Bengal Ranji Trophy semi-final match at in Pune.

Opening the innings with Kunal Chandela, Gambhir stitched a 232-run opening stand in reply to Bengal's first innings total of 286.

In the process, the left-handed batsman also became the fourth Delhi batsman to complete 6000 runs in Ranji Trophy, after Mithun Manhas, Ajay Sharma, and Raman Lamba. Manhas leads the list with 7911 runs.

Regarded as one of India's finest openers, Gambhir continued to press hard for an India comeback. Last year, in October, he made India comeback after two years, coming in for injured KL Rahul during the New Zeland series.

He eventually played in the last Test match in Indore, scoring 29 and 50, in a winning cause. He then played the Rajkot Test against England the next month. And many thought it will be his last India match.

In an illustrious career, the 36-year-old played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is, scoring 4154, 5238 and 932 runs respectively. He also has 20 international hundreds.

He was an important member of the Indian teams which won the2007 World T20 and 2011 ICC World titles.