Top 5 knocks played by Gautam Gambhir

#3 137 vs New Zealand at Napier, 2009

137 runs, 436 balls, 643 minutes. Job done.

If ever there was an innings of resolute patience that could draw comparisons with the kind of innings that Sunil Gavaskar played in his heyday, then it was this one.

137 runs, 436 balls, 643 minutes - these are not small numbers, especially when your team is trying to save the Test match after being made to follow on and trailing by more than 300 runs.

Gambhir stitched together partnerships with all the greats of the Indian team in that match - Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. And even after Dravid and Tendulkar departed Gambhir stayed rooted at the crease, toiling away and not giving an inch to the opposition.

In the end, when Gambhir got out after batting for about 160 overs, the team was out of danger and the match was saved.

This innings really put Gambhir on the map of international cricket, and everyone started taking notice of his gumption in its aftermath.