Standing on top of the world

amp;149; As a kid,going out to play cricket with my friends,my dream was always to play Test cricket for India. If you look at the legends of the game,they all have fantastic Test records. I wanted to be like them. All the big names are known by their Test records rather than their one-day or T20 stats. Test cricket was always my parameter of success,and thats where I wanted to reach the pinnacle.

You have been called the Bradman of T20 cricket,but is it true that youre a purist at heart?

amp;149; Im 100 per cent a purist. Ill have no regrets in exchanging all my ODI and T20 achievements for something in Tests. All forms of the game are different you want to do well in all of them,thats a different challenge altogether. But if you ask any cricketer what satisfies him the most,he will not bat an eyelid before saying Test cricket,for it challenges your temperament and skill in equal measure. A batsman has to adapt to the changing scenario every day,and you have to be good over five days to win a game. That is the ultimate test.

In that case,being the No 1 Test batsman in the world must be all the more special8230;

amp;149; It gives me immense happiness,especially after my technique was questioned during my initial years and when I was branded an ODI batsman. But the biggest satisfaction for any cricketer is to make winning contributions. If you look closely,my good patch has overlapped with India winning three series in a row,and that satisfaction was unmatched. To be able to look at those statistics and say that I played an important role in that is special. Being number one is great,but it doesnt match up to that.

Which is your best Test innings?

amp;149; Every Test innings is special to me. Some of my better knocks have been just 50-plus,and not centuries. But the 137 at Napier is closest to my heart. It challenged my temperament more than my skill. I had to anchor the team to safety and I was happy to pass the test. Other than that,I especially enjoyed my double hundred against the Australians at the Kotla and the 179 against England at Mohali,where I had to bat the entire day with Rahul Dravid.

Whats next on your wishlist?

amp;149; To see India at the top of Test rankings. When I was growing up,India used to struggle overseas in Test cricket. I made it my aim to help the team win more abroad. That is why the series win in New Zealand was so important. Otherwise,I dont like to set personal milestones such as scoring 10,000 runs or 35 hundreds. They put a lot of pressure because they are always at the back of your mind. I just want to contribute to the teams victories,and then look back at what Ive achieved and feel proud about it.

Rankings aside,who do you think is the best Test batsman in the world?

amp;149; Virender Sehwag,no doubt about it. The mental toughness he possesses is admirable. At this level,everybody has his own style,and Sehwags technique is unmatched. But,more importantly,what one needs at this level is mental toughness. Ive watched him closely for a long time,and Ive learnt so much from him. He knows both how to weather a storm and to kick up a storm with his batting.

What was the defining moment of your Test career?

amp;149; When I went to Sri Lanka in 2008,I knew it would be my most important series. There had been a lot of talk about how I had been given a lot of opportunities,and I wanted to end that debate once and for all. I was aware that facing Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis in their own backyard could make or break my career if I handled them well,it would not only give me confidence for tougher tests ahead,but also pave the way for a brighter future. Thats exactly what happened.

Right through your career,you have been at the receiving end of criticism. How do you handle that?

amp;149; Its frustrating sometimes. For a player,his security in the team is very important. The more you play,the more you are bound to both succeed and fail,but what is important is that the success ratio is higher. In the past,critics have often gotten personal about me,and its because of their short-sightedness. They havent bothered to look at the overall stats and lazily harped on a couple of failures. Its easy to sit back and talk,or write,ruining the hard work put in by a player. I believe that those who indulge in such banter are often unsuccessful or mediocre in their own life.

What was the secret behind your success over the last season,across all formats?

amp;149; I think the common link has to be Viru. Hes been my biggest critic. I dread going back into the dressing room after getting dismissed. Id rather face the fastest fast bowlers hurling bouncers at my head than listen to him pointing out my mistakes laughs.

How important has Gary Kirstens role been in your run?

amp;149; Gary is the best thing to have happened to Indian cricket. For me,personally,he has been a great help. When I went up to him in Sri Lanka,he told me to get the mindset right. He said if there was something wrong with my technique,then I could work on it,but being in the right frame of mind was the key. Being a left-handed opener who has played 100 Test matches,he could understand my needs perfectly. We worked on a lot of angles that can come up during a Test match,and it paid rich dividends.

What it took to be the worlds No 1 batsman

74 in 2nd innings

2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Galle

Match scenario: Despite Virender Sehwags double hundred in the first innings,India manage a lead of just 37 runs. Down 1-0 in the series,the visitors need a good start in the second innings to dictate terms. Gambhir top scores with 74 as Sri Lanka face a stiff target of 307. India win after the hosts succumb in the chase.

Degree of difficulty: A wearing third-day pitch,Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan in top form and repeated failures of the middle order mean pressure is on the openers.

67 amp; 104

2nd Test against Australia in Mohali

Match scenario: After surviving a scare in the first Test,India are desperate for a good start. Gautams 67 helps India seize the initiative as they post a 400-plus score. As the Aussies concede the lead,India look for some quick runs and give their bowlers enough time to take 10 wickets. Gambhir obliges with a 138-ball 104.

Degree of difficulty: Following his failure to consolidate on a good start in the first Test,Gambhir needs to do better,as well as blunt the new-ball bowlers,Brett Lee and Peter Siddle.

206 in 1st innings

3rd Test against Australia in Delhi

Match scenario: Leading 1-0 in the series,India are wary of the Aussies ability to bounce back and aim to slam the door on the visitors. Gambhir makes a double ton as the game ends in a draw.

Degree of difficulty: Burden of expectation is heavier as he is playing at home.

179 amp; 97

2nd Test in Mohali

Match scenario: India are 1-0 up in the series,but England dismiss last-match hero Virender Sehwag early to raise hopes. But together with Rahul Dravid,Gambhir bats the visitors out of the game. The left-hander carries on in the same vein in the second innings.

Degree of difficulty: Especially in the first innings,no batsman other than Gambhir and Dravid is able to score freely against Flintoff amp; Co.

137 in 2nd innings

2nd Test against New Zealand in Napier

Match scenario: New Zealand seem all set to level the series,as India,following on,trail by over 300 runs. Defence is the only option since the tourists need to survive four sessions.

Degree of difficulty: Need to curb his aggressive instinct,avoid the close-in fielders while facing Vettoris smart spin and do whatever it takes to be in the middle for nearly 11 hours.