On July 10, 1949, in Bombay (now Mumbai), Sunil Gavaskar was born to Manohar and Meenal. On Wednesday, the renowned cricket player will celebrate turning 75.
In March 1971, Gavaskar played his first international match at Queen’s Park Oval against the West Indies. He did not play in the opening Test match, but he went on to score an incredible 774 runs at an average of 154.80 in eight innings. Even now, his record remains intact.
As he progressed, Gavaskar won over both supporters and detractors with his perseverance, consistency, and resolve. He took to international cricket like a duck to water. Cricket fans remember with affection the little batter’s meetings with the notorious West Indies pace attack. In the past, pitches weren’t kept up as much as they are now. Most surfaces used to have unpredictable bounce, and hitters at Gavaskar’s age didn’t even have the luxuries of protective gear.
After playing for the national side for 16 years, Gavaskar amassed 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12 from 125 Tests and 3,092 runs at an average of 35.14 from 108 One-Day Internationals. Gavaskar broke the record before Sachin Tendulkar did in the longest format of the game, scoring 45 half-centuries and 34 centuries. In contrast, the right-handed batsman amassed 27 fifties and one century in one-day international cricket.
The veteran skippered the Indian team in the late 1970s and early 1980s as well. He only won nine games, lost eight, and as many as thirty were tied, therefore his leadership record wasn’t very good.
In the championship match of 1987, Gavaskar made his last outing for India and amassed 300 runs at an average of 50. Gavaskar was bowled out for just four runs in his final match, which was in the quarterfinals.
He announced his retirement from cricket, and now he is regarded as one of the best the game has ever produced when it comes to commentary and broadcasting. His ability to call a spade a spade has earned him respect, and that is what sets him apart.
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