New Delhi: Nobody ever doubted Gautam Gambhir’s capabilities and when he was removed from the vice-captaincy of Indian team with his youngster Delhi mate Virat Kohli, it came in for a shock and no doubt must have hurt Gambhir’s chances of slipping into Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s shoes once he called it a day.

But that incident in a way seemed to have infused in a lot of determination and motivation for the Delhi southpaw as he not just let his bat talking on the field during IPL-5, becoming the second highest run-getter of the tournament, he also led Kolkata Knight Riders to a victory against Chennai Super Kings led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Buoyed by his success both as a leader and a batsman Gambhir in an interview to a TV channel on Friday claimed that he is ready to captain the Indian Test team. Speaking to Headlines Today executive editor Rahul Kanwal on Hot Pursuit, Gambhir spelt his willingness to replace the Indian skipper, Dhoni, if given the responsibility by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“I would relish the opportunity to be Test captain. Who doesn't want to? But captaincy won't change my passion for the game,' said the southpaw in reply to a question.

Asked if he was ready to lead the Test side, Gambhir said, “Absolutely, it is the biggest honour. I am ready for it. Ready for the responsibility of the challenge because you want to take different challenges as well. That's where your mental toughness and character will be tested.”

“I have heard of the talks (of being made the India captain) but as I have said a captain is as good as the team. It's a successful team that makes a successful captain and not that a successful captain makes a successful team,” he said. “I am very insecure guy as far as my profession is concerned and my insecurity is far more than my security. Even now to be honest,” conceded Gambhir in an interview to NDTV.

Surprisingly, he also said that he did not enjoy too much of cricket and the game was just his priority.

“I don't enjoy, to be honest, too much of cricket. For me cricket is something which is my priority. I want to get there and get the best result. One thing which has helped me is that whatever I have gone through I try not to give to other people playing with me. Whenever I led a side I have always tried that my players feel secure.

“It's not about I enjoy or not. Till the time the team is enjoying I am happy with that,” he said while admitting that he had crossed the line of playing with the spirit of the game.