| The meaning of the word 'Sportsmanship 'as found in | | | | Virat Kohli;while Gautam was an experienced |
| the Advanced Learners Dictionary is fair, generous | | | | batsman, Virat Kohli was a young chap of 21 years |
| and polite behavior of a sportsman, especially when | | | | old and rather inexperienced. |
| playing a sport or game. In fact a sportsman is | | | | Both the batsmans made a spirited run chase and |
| always expected to behave with a spirit of | | | | pulverized the Sri Lankan bowling attack. Neither pace |
| sportsmanship on and off the field; whether he or | | | | nor spin bowling of Sri Lankan bowlers created any |
| she is playing a game or not. | | | | impression or posed a real threat on both these |
| On 24, December 2009, more than 60,000 cricket | | | | batsmen. Both of them matched each other in their |
| fans who came to witness the Fourth One Day | | | | stroke making and engaged in a double century |
| International Cricket match that was played between | | | | partnership. The youngster Virat Kohli made his |
| India and Sri Lanka witnessed such a rare gesture of | | | | maiden ODI century and got out at 107 with 11 fours |
| real sportsmanship from an Indian Cricketer. It was | | | | and 1 six and Gautam Gambhir scored an unbeaten |
| none other than the Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir. | | | | 150 with 14 fours. In the end India easily reached the |
| What prompted him to exhibit such a rare | | | | target with 317/3 and won the match by 7 wickets |
| sportsmanship? | | | | and won the ODI series at 3-1. |
| Sri Lanka having won the toss and batting first set a | | | | The match referee chose Gautam Gambhir as man |
| huge target of 315/6 runs, thanks to a fine century | | | | of the match for his unbeaten match winning score |
| of 115 runs from the opening Sri Lankan batsman | | | | of 150 that played a crucial role in reaching the target. |
| Upul Tharanga as well as sloppy Indian fielding. Both | | | | In the post match award winning ceremony, Ravi |
| the Sri Lankan openers Upul Tharanga and Dilshan | | | | Sasthri announced Gautam Gambhir as the man of |
| were dropped early in their innings that led to a | | | | the match. But Gautam Gambhir requested Ravi |
| highest ever run chase made by India at the Eden | | | | Sasthri and the sponsors of the award, to confer the |
| Garden cricket stadium in Kolkatta. | | | | award to Virat Kohli, for his maiden ODI century, |
| When India began its run chase, both the openers | | | | which also played a crucial role in posting a double |
| Virendar Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar got out early | | | | century partnership and reaching the huge target set |
| with their respective scores of 10 and 8. | | | | by Sri Lanka.His request was accepted and the Man |
| Then began the finest and an easiest run chase | | | | of the Match award was conferred to Virat Kohli. |
| between two Indian batsmen, Gautam Gambhir and | | | | |