3. Gautam Gamhir:
Replying to New Zealand’s mammoth total of 619 runs, India were asked to follow on after being dismissed for only 305 runs in their first innings. The Indian team was looking down the barrel on a swinging pitch only to see Gautam Gambhir play one of the best innings of his career to earn India a memorable draw. Apart from Gambhir, there were valuable contributions from the trio of Dravid (62 off 220) Tendulkar (64 off 131) and Laxman (124 of 212).
Opening the innings, the southpaw occupied the crease for nearly 160 overs and scored 137 runs in 643 minutes.