Gautam Gambhir made his first class debut in Delhi's opening fixture in the 1999-2000 Ranji Trophy Super League, against Rajasthan at the Kotla. A score of 33 in the only innings he got could not safeguard his place for the next two games. When Gambhir finally got another chance, it was an away game against Karnataka. The game was absolutely pivotal to Delhi's chances of progressing in the competition; a win would see them into the knockouts if, as expected, Mumbai beat Bengal.

After losing the toss and being inserted by Karnataka, Delhi began on an encouraging note, running up 308/5 by stumps on the opening day. Ashu Dani was fired out early by Karnataka skipper Venkatesh Prasad but his opening partner Akash Chopra, in the company of new arrival Gambhir, frustrated the bowlers over the next two and three quarter hours. Gambhir's maiden first class half century was posted off 94 balls, shortly after lunch. The second wicket stand was worth 140 in 39 overs before Gambhir ran himself out for 73. He had clearly been the more enterprising of the two, spanking nine boundaries in his 116 ball effort.

On the second morning Venkatesh Prasad knifed through the lower order as Delhi collapsed inexplicably from 320/5 to 342. Karnataka proceeded to establish a slender lead of 17 before being bowled out just before lunch on the third day. Left with the task of raising some quick runs to allow for a challenging declaration on the final morning, the Delhi batsmen floundered after getting off the blocks.

Gambhir himself made a brisk 30 off 43 balls, with four fours, before falling to the off spin of Vijay Bharadwaj. Delhi ended the third evening at a dismal 182/7 and were dismissed five overs into the next day, leaving Karnataka a target of 175. The hosts duly knocked up the runs for the loss of just two wickets to gatecrash into the knockouts and send their opponents spinning out of the competition. In a challenging assignment, the 18-year-old Gambhir, in just his second first class game, gave every indication of having earned the Delhi cap that he so proudly sported.