Click to play videoNew Delhi: It has been quite a year for Gautam Gambhir. He can't seem to put a foot wrong in the Twenty20 and One-Day formats these days and is knocking hard for a recall to the Test team. In fact, Gambhir told CNN-IBN's Himanshu Singhal that regaining his Test spot remains his first priority.
Gautam Gambhir: We really played well throughout the tournament. It was just one bad game, which we played in the semi-finals in Mumbai against the Rajasthan Royals. We should have definitely played the final and try to win the final. But it happens in twenty20 because it is such a format that you don't have too much time.
If you play one or two overs badly, it can turn things. It is always a cat and mouse game. Overall, though, I thought all of us really played well and it was a good team effort. I think, it was a very decent effort from all of us.
Himanshu Singhal: How would you assess you own performance in the IPL tournament? Looking back, do you think you could have done even better?
Gautam Gambhir: I think, as a cricketer you are never satisfied with your performance. But overall, if I want to assess my performance then I am pretty happy my performance - the way I was batting. Though, I am not satisfied as I wanted to win the tournament for Delhi but that couldn't happen. However, if I analyse my overall performance, it was pretty decent.
Himanshu Singhal: There has been a lot of talk that the success of the IPL with the twenty20 format in particular can severely effect the ODI format. Do you agree?
Gautam Gambhir: I think every format has its own charm. Test cricket has its charm and so is One-Dayers. In the One-Dayers, you always have time to make a come back, even if you don't get a very good start, and you can get into the game again. But that is something, which is not there in T20 as it is such a small format.
I think, every form has its own charm and when you play for your country, especially in 50-50 aside format, it gives you a different feeling, a different passion as you are playing for your country.
Himanshu Singhal: What are the important lessons that you have learned from the IPL, specifically the Twenty20 format?
Gautam Gambhir: I think, it has made me realise that it is not always important to play big shots and you need not have to be a big hitter to get runs in the twenty20 format. It has to the about the placements and the timings.
And being the second highest run getter in the tournament, it has given me a confidence that the way I was playing in Australia and the way I continued in the IPL, it has only increased my confidence which is really very important because when you are doing well, you want to continue and want to get runs everywhere.
And as I am getting into the next series, i.e., Bangladesh, it is only going to help me increase my confidence.
Himanshu Singhal: What positives do you take out from the IPL, considering that you had interaction with a whole lot of international players?
Gautam Gambhir: Playing with some of the great players like Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori, obviously, when you share your experiences and when they share their experiences with you, it only makes you a better player. If you keep exchanging you experiences in the dressing room it increases your confidence and you tend to learn a lot from them.
Himanshu Singhal: What are the important areas that you are working on now since you need to switch from the T20 format to the ODI format?
Gautam Gambhir: I think it is difficult as there is hardly any time. If we would have had time, we would have liked to play a couple of practice games to get into that format. But as a professional cricketer there are no complains as this is what professional cricket is all about and need to adjust to any form of the game as early as possible.
I think, it is more in the mind and you can adjust yourself in the mind rather than getting into the middle and then adjusting yourself.
Himanshu Singhal: Interestingly, this was the first time when you had an opportunity to play against your own Indian teammates - people you tend to play with on a daily basis. How differently would you approach your ODI assignment or probably the next time you meet all your own Indian teammates in the same dressing room?
Gautam Gambhir: I think when as a professional cricketer you are playing against your own teammates, ultimately, you don't want to get back into the dressing being on the losing side because there are challenges as you know a lot about them and they know a lot about you. They know your strengths and weakness and vice-versa.
It is fun when you are playing against them and also when playing with each other as the team spirit has to be there. It was an exciting and a great experience to play against each other and again when we are together we are going to share our experiences that we learned from some of the great players in our respective dressing rooms.
Himanshu Singhal: Do you think your successful run with the IPL will now help you regain your Test opener's slot?
Gautam Gambhir: I think, that is my ultimate dream because as a cricketer you always want to well in Test cricket and you always want to get runs in Test cricket because you are judged by your skills in Test cricket rather than in ODIs or in T20 skills, so every cricketer want to play Test cricket.
And that is what even I want to do and also continue this form of mine into Test cricket as well. I am looking forward to it.
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