Today marks the 74th birthday of Indian sports star Sunil Gavaskar. From 1971 to 1987, he represented India for 16 years, during which time he accomplished a number of batting records. He played on the team as an opening hitter for the majority of his international career. He is the first Indian hitter to reach 1000 runs in a Test match.
In the sport’s longest format, he also held the record for scoring the most centuries (34 tons) until December 2005. During India’s tour of the West Indies in 1971, Gavaskar made his debut abroad. In eight innings in four Tests during his first series, he scored 774 runs, including four hundred and three fifty-six.
He still maintains the record for having scored the most runs in his first Test series with these figures. Throughout his exceptional career, Gavaskar produced countless bat knocks, some of which are still well-remembered by sports fans.
Here are the top three knocks on Sunil Gavaskar:
1. 103* vs New Zealand in World Cup 1987
Sunil Gavaskar’s best one-day international (ODI) performance of his career came during the 1987 World Cup. India crushed New Zealand by nine wickets in the group’s last match, played in Nagpur. Jeff Crowe, the captain of New Zealand, chose to bat first after winning the toss earlier in the match.
New Zealand’s batters struggled against India’s precise bowling, losing nine wickets and finishing their innings with a meager 221 runs in 50 overs. By recording 3/51 in his 10-over stint, Chetan Sharma was instrumental in holding the Black Caps to a meager total.
Gavaskar and his opening partner, Kris Srikkanth attacked the Kiwi bowlers hard after the target. In the 33rd over of the match, Gavaskar got his first ODI century to easily lead India to victory. Gavaskar scored 103 runs off just 88 deliveries and returned to the pavilion undefeated. He shared Player of the Match honors with his teammate Chetan Sharma due to his outstanding performance.
2. 220 vs West Indies in 1971
An accomplishment for any side in the 1970s was winning a Test series against the West Indies. In 1971, the Indian team traveled to the Caribbean islands to compete against the Garry Sobers-led West Indies. The squad returned triumphant, taking the five-match Test series by a score of 1-0, with Ajit Wadekar serving as captain.
It was crucial for India to perform at their peak in the following three matches after a seven-wicket victory in the second Test at Port of Spain. India and the West Indies played each other again in the fifth Test, which was held in Port of Spain. After winning the toss, India captain Ajit Wadekar decided to bat first.
India scored 360 runs in the first inning because of Gavaskar’s spectacular 124-ball knock, Dilip Sardesai’s 75, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan’s 51. The Caribbean team scored 526 to counter India’s total. In the crucial game, Windies captain Sobers came through and scored 132 runs.
India needed to display character to win the game after the Windies’ team’s powerful comeback. The Windies’ bowling unit was once again destroyed by Gavaskar, who had a century in the first inning. This time, he scored 220 runs, an outstanding performance. After all was said and done, the game was declared a draw, giving India their first Test series victory in the Caribbean.
3. 236* vs West Indies in 1983
India suffered an embarrassing loss to the West Indies in ODIs and Tests played at home after winning the 1983 World Cup. The Windies enjoyed a 3-0 lead that was unstoppable after five of the six Test matches. India competed for dignity against the visitors in the last Test in Chennai.
Right after winning the toss, West Indies captain Clive Lloyd decided to bat first. The visitors scored 313 runs in the first inning, thanks in large part to their wicketkeeper batsman Jeff Dujon’s 62-run performance. Anshuman Gaekwad and Dilip Vengsarkar were both dismissed before the conclusion of the Windies’ total, giving India a terrible start.
Gavaskar again, though, decided to take matters into his own hands and racked up a double ton. India was five runs down at one point with a score of 92, but Gavaskar used his knowledge to join forces with Ravi Shastri, who also contributed 72 runs, to put together a 170-run partnership.
With 451 runs scored, India declared their innings, and Gavaskar returned to the pavilion after scoring 236 unbroken runs. Gavaskar was named Player of the Match for his outstanding batting performance after the game finished in a tie.
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