It was his first Man of the Match award in Test cricket, and Gautam Gambhir’s big smile bounced off the gleaming trophy clutched tightly in his hands on Tuesday evening. It’s been a great year for the left-handed opening batsman, and it might’ve been even better if Gambhir had got three more runs to bring up his century. He missed getting into that elite club of Indian batsmen — players who have scored hundreds in both innings of a Test match — that has Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid as its only members.

With 2,245 runs this calendar year in international cricket, with six hundreds at a Test average of 70.87 and a one-day average of 46.62, Gambhir has left all his compatriots in the Indian dressing room behind. In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, Gambhir talks about his break-out year, the turning point of his career, and his hunger to do better. Excerpts:

•This year has been very special for you. It has put you on the centre-stage.

• It’s been a truly fabulous 2008, and I’ll miss it very much. I feel like clinging on to 2008 and not letting it pass by, stopping the clock and saying, ‘I want to hang on to you’. I have enjoyed playing cricket every day of this year and it’s been really special how my career has shaped up.

•Are there any regrets? This missed century?

• There is no end to desire. Cricketers, especially batsmen, are always selfish people. If you score hundred, then you want 150, and once you reach there, you think about a double. But if anyone would’ve given me about 700 runs in eight Test matches, with wins in four of them, I would’ve taken it hands down. I’ve done even better, so it’s very satisfying. But if you ask me if I want more, I would say yes, why not?

•After scoring 1,000 runs in both versions, have you ever had the time to sit back and let the magnitude of your effort sink in?

• Maybe that’s why I’ve got this break now. I never had the time to analyse — everything happened at a very hectic pace and I was playing almost non-stop. Now I plan to sit back, watch my clippings, enjoy my success, and realise what I’ve achieved, what it is that everyone is talking about.

•You always lacked recognition in comparison to your contribution in the team. Do you still feel that way now?

• Actually I’ve never really felt that way. When I came into the team, my only goal was to score runs and contribute match after match. None of those goals have changed. I still get my biggest satisfaction by hitting runs when the team is under pressure and bailing them out. I’ve been able to produce those innings this year and I only want my team to recognise my performance.

•What was the turning point or the best innings you have played this year?

• It has to be that 100 against Australia in Australia. To score against the best in the world in those conditions gives you a lot of confidence as a cricketer. More than anything, it allowed me to hit back at all my critics, who had declared that I couldn’t score against good opposition on difficult wickets. That innings, more than the one I scored first in Australia against Sri Lanka, was special in that respect. Australia in Australia is the ultimate, isn’t it?

•Finally, what are your plans for 2009?

• I don’t plan too much. I just want 2009 to be as good as 2008. That’s my wish for the new year.