Gautam Gambhir turns 45; Yuvraj, Raina, Rajeev Shukla and Rohan Jaitley send wishes

Former India opener and current head coach Gautam Gambhir turned 45 on Wednesday. Wishes poured in for him from the cricket fraternity on his birthday.

Former India teammates Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina greeted Gambhir, as did BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley, who wished "GG" a happy birthday.

Yuvraj wrote on Instagram: "GG, you know I am always with you and I want you to grow even stronger. Many happy returns of the day, brother. Keep going, we are very proud of you. Lots of love."

Raina wrote on X: "A fighter on the field, a winner at heart and a man who always stands firmly for Indian cricket. Wish you good health. Stay happy and add many more records to your name in the journey ahead. Keep inspiring and keep leading."

Shukla wrote in his message: "Your tremendous passion for cricket, your fighting spirit and your unwavering commitment to Indian cricket will always keep inspiring us. Keep contributing to the growth of Indian cricket. May the coming year be even more wonderful for you."

Jaitley also greeted Gambhir while speaking to the media. He said: "Happy birthday, Gautam Gambhir. I pray to God for your good health, happiness and continued success. Delhiites will always be proud of their son and his invaluable contribution to Indian cricket. You are inspiring generations to come."

Between 2003 and 2016, Gambhir played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20 internationals for India as a left-handed opener. He scored 4,154 runs in Tests, including 9 centuries and 22 half-centuries.

In ODIs, he made 5,238 runs with 11 centuries and 34 half-centuries, and in T20s he scored 932 runs with 7 half-centuries. He played a memorable part in India's wins at the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2007 T20 World Cup. He retired from all formats of cricket in 2018.

Gambhir is now playing his second innings in Indian cricket as a coach. He was named India's head coach on July 9, 2024. India have won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026 under him. His tenure as head coach runs until the 2027 ODI World Cup.