Gambhir: Mohali Ton Better Than One Against Australia

Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir said that his day one century against England in the second Test in Mohali was a better effort than his run-scoring feats in the recent series against Australia. India closed the first day on 179 for one.

"Every Test hundred is very special to me," he said. "This is a much better hundred compared to the one against Australia because the ball was doing a bit and we lost Viru (Virender Sehwag) very early, so it was very important for me and Rahul to have a partnership.

"England were coming really hard at us, so I think the way me and Rahul handled the fast bowling in the first session was very critical and it is very special."

Gambhir was unbeaten on 106 alongside Dravid, who made 65 after India lost Sehwag to the ninth ball of the day when he was caught behind off of Stuart Broad.Gambhir paid tribute to his senior partner, who had been under some pressure going into this match after a lack of form.

"He is a great player," Gambhir said. "I dont think I need to comment because getting 10,000 runs in Test Cricket is not a joke. he has been a legend in Indian cricket we always knew that he was just one innnings away and once he gets a good score under his belt, his confidence is going to go up and I think this innings is going to improve his confidence."

England bowler James Anderson thought that his side had been unlucky not to take more than one wicket in the day's play.

"We tried really hard with the ball today and I thought we bowled pretty well," the Lancashire man said. "We were a little bit unlucky not to get a few more wickets. The first half an hour to an hour it did move around a little bit, but once it dried out it looked pretty flat."

India won the first Test by six wickets in Chennai.

© Cricket World 2008