Adam Gilchrist may have retired from international cricket but retains the ability to reproduce the magic of coming good on the big day.
For a wicket-keeper, with the highest strike rates in both Test and one-day internationals, Gilchrist has achieved more than any other cricketer in the game.
On Tuesday, Gilchrist turned the corner with a blistering knock of 106 that laid Royal Challengers Bangalore low amid the scenic surrounds of the HPCA Cricket Stadium here. It was yet another must-win match for Kings XI Punjab and that too, against the league leaders.
Coming good in big matches is nothing new to Gilchrist, who turns 40 this November. In three successive World Cup finals, Gilchrist has a score of 50-plus, with a high of 149 against Sri Lanka in the 2007 final.
After a string of below-par scores so far in the fourth season of the Indian Premier League, Gilchrist finally got his act together. The only man in Test cricket to hit over 100 sixes, managed nine against the hapless RCB attack to avenge the team's loss at Bangalore earlier this month.
The humble man, who has seen it all during his illustrious career, refused to rate his blazing knock but termed it as “important” and a “pleasing” one.
“I have not been setting the world on fire with my batting in the last 6-7 innings. So it was nice to come good,” he said after turning the match into a no-contest.
Not many have noticed that Gilchrist opened his account with his 2000th run in twenty20 cricket had scored only two runs from eight deliveries in the first six overs. Off the 10th ball he faced, Gilchrist hoisted a six off A. Mithun and thereafter, did not look back.
In fact, after a cautious start, Effectively, Gilchrist scored 104 runs, dotted with nine sixes and eight boundaries spread over only 46 deliveries!
“I told myself… don't panic. If you can stick around, you can always pick it up later,” said the man not known to be patient when at the crease.
But it was the eighth over that truly left RCB worried with both Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh hitting a six and a boundary off left-arm medium pacer S. Arvind. Thereafter, there was no respite for RCB.
“Marsh is a quality player. Since I come from the same city as him, I've seen him from his days when he was very young. I have always maintained that IPL is a great platform to perform.
“But you have to build on it in domestic cricket and then play consistently to move to the highest level. I am sure Marsh can become a regular member of the Australian National team,” said Gilchrist in praise of the man with whom he put on the highest T20 partnership of 206 runs for the second wicket in just 16 overs.
Interestingly, this is the second time in the IPL that Gilchrist is required to lead his team for a five-win finish for a place in the next stage. Last year, Gilchrist led Deccan Chargers to the semifinals after the team needed to win its last five league matches.
This year, as the skipper of the Kings XI Punjab, Gilchrist faces a similar challenge. So far, the team has won its last four games, including the ones against Mumbai Indians and RCB when the teams were atop the points table. Gilchrist now faces his former team, Deccan Chargers here on May 21.
How does he manage to lift a team that faces an all-win situation with five games in hand?
“I don't let the boys go flat after defeats. I try to keep them motivated. There is no point in hitting the bottom after losing and going overboard with a win. I think, the boys listen better when they know that have to win all their games to stay in contention.”
For Gilchrist, the captain, the job on hand is far from over.
