Is not picked for the Under-19 World Cup that India win in Sri Lanka, but makes his first-class debut for Delhi as an 18-year-old. Manages a fifty in the two matches he gets in his first season.

Has cemented his place in the Delhi side with a spate of fifties, but the big ones arrive in his third season. Scores 214 against Railways, and is selected for the Board President's XI to play the touring Zimbabweans. Smashes a 284-ball 218 out of a total of 361 for 3 decl.

Makes his ODI debut in the tri-series in Bangladesh, gets one fifty in five matches, and is dropped.

After a year-and-a-half of more prolific run-getting in domestic cricket and a few productive A tours, is drafted into the Test squad to replace Delhi team-mate Aakash Chopra in the side that has lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Scores 3 and 1 in his first Test, but manages 96 in his second, against South Africa. In between the two matches, comes a 181-ball 151 in the Ranji Trophy.

Scores his first Test century in the Chittagong Test, and along with Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly sets up an innings win.

Is brought back to the ODI side, and scores a maiden century is his first match back. By December, though, following an ordinary series against Sri Lanka (54 runs in six innings), he is replaced by Dravid as opener in Pakistan. Later says it is his over-aggression that cost him his place.

After having been a sporadic presence in the ODIs, is left out of India's World Cup squad. Later says: "I didn't want to play anymore. I didn't want to practise. I couldn't motivate myself."

Is back in the ODI side after the World Cup debacle, but thinks it's his last chance when he plays the three-ODI series in Bangladesh. Scores a century in the second, and buys himself time.

While still fighting for a place in Tests, gets to play in the World Twenty20, and scores three fifties in five matches of a successful campaign, including the top score of 75 in the final.

Scores back-to-back fourth-innings centuries - 132 in a chase of 271 in the semi-final and 130 not out while chasing 230 in the final - to lead Delhi to their first Ranji triumph in 16 years.

Ends up as the second-highest run-getter in the inaugural IPL. Is a permanent member in India's teams in the limited-overs formats, and is awaiting a Test recall …

… which duly arrives when he is picked to open the innings with Virender Sehwag on the Sri Lanka Test tour. Grabs his chance, and while the fabled Indian middle order struggles against Murali and Mendis, Gambhir is the second-highest scorer in the series.

Has impressed many by holding his own in Sri Lanka, but including the first innings in Mohali, he has wasted nine starts and not converted a single one into three figures. Later says: "There was talk behind my back that I was good only for fifties." In the second innings, though, gets that elusive century, kicking off a period in which he scores eight centuries in 10 Tests.

Is banned for one Test after he elbows Shane Watson during a spell of fierce verbals between Australian fielders and Gambhir in the Delhi Test. Later says: "If India had lost the next Test, I would have taken all the blame."

Becomes the 41st cricketer to be felicitated with the Arjuna Award, instituted in 1961 by the Indian government to recognise outstanding achievement in national sport.

Is named Test Player of the Year by the ICC. Has scored 1269 runs at 84.60 in eight Tests, including five centuries and four half-centuries, during the 12-month voting period.

By the time he gets out for 68 in the Mirpur Test, he has scored at least 50 in an innings in 11 straight Tests, equalling the record held by Viv Richards. Also falls just short of equalling Don Bradman’s record of centuries in six consecutive Tests.