Sunil Manohar Gavaskar is considered as one of the greatest openers of all time in Indian cricket. He captained the Indian team in 47 Test matches over a 16-year period and played 125 Test matches. While batting at the top of the order for India in the 1970s and 1980s, he was able to hold the top order against trepid fast bowlers.
As part of his debut test series against the West Indies, Gavaskar scored 774 runs, making him the first Indian player to score 774 runs in a test series. He hailed as a national hero immediately, but he wasn't aware of how much was expected of him among Indian cricket fans. Despite his fans' expectations, he did not disappoint them. Throughout his career, he set numerous records, some of which have taken decades to surpass, and many more are yet to be broken.
| Born: 10 July 1949 | Nationality: Indian |
| Years Active: (1971-1987) | Birth Place: Bombay (now Mumbai), India |
| Height: 5ft 4in | Role: Batsman |
| Batting Style: Right-Handed Bat | Bowling Style: Right-arm Off break |
| Nickname: Sunny, Little Master |
Sunil Gavaskar was born to Manohar Gavaskar and Meenal Gavaskar. His father was also an excellent club cricketer in his youth. His mother was a homemaker. In an interview, Sunil's father said he inherited most of his qualities from his mother, and Sunil also acknowledges the influence of his mother.
In 1974, he married Marshneil Mehrotra, the daughter of a leather industrialist. Sunil and Marshneil have one son named Rohan Gavaskar. In the same manner, as his father, Rohan also played international cricket for India. Nevertheless, he did not make it for long.
In 1966, Gavaskar was named 'India's Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year' at the age of 17. His first-class debut came against Dungarpur XI in the 1966-67 Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup tournament.
It was not long before he made his way into the 'Bombay Ranji' squad, but his poor performance against the 'Rest of India' in the 1967 Irani Cup meant that he had to make his Ranji Trophy debut against Mysore in 1969-1970.
On his debut, he played a duck, but he recovered with consecutive tons in his next three games.
In 1971, Sunil Gavaskar made his debut against the West Indies. Gavaskar scored 65 on his international test debut in Port of Spain scripted India's first-ever test win over the West Indies. The 774 runs he scored in his debut test series still rank as the most runs scored in any test series.
The first time he played ODI cricket was against England at Headingley in July 1974. He scored 28 runs in that match.
Between 1976 and 1980, Gavaskar displayed his talent to the fullest, averaging 62.28 overall, including series against the West Indies, England, Australia, and Pakistan.
In 1979, while touring England, he hit an outstanding 221 at the Oval. His most impressive test knock came against the West Indies in Chennai, when he scored 236 unbeaten.
Gavaskar crossed the 1000-test run four times (1976, 1978, 1979, and 1983) in a single year.
After a magnificent start, Gavaskar's average fell below 28 over the following four years. He had a disappointing tour of England in 1984, scoring only 140 runs in eight innings.
As an ODI player, Gavaskar averaged 35.13 in 108 appearances, with a single century against New Zealand. The unbeaten 36 runs he scored off 174 deliveries in the 1975 World Cup game against England sparked intense controversy.
In January 1976, Gavaskar took over as test captain and delivered Australia a crushing defeat in Melbourne in 1981. In 47 tests, he led India to nine victories and eight defeats.
He became ODI captain in December 1980. It was a glorious achievement to win the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in 1985 as he served as captain for 38 matches (14 wins, 19 losses).
The heroic 96 that Gavaskar scored in his last test innings against Pakistan in March 1987 was not enough to save India from defeat. In November 1987, his hometown saw India lose to England in the 1987 World Cup semi-finals. Soon afterward, he announced his retirement.
After retiring, he refereed one test and five ODIs, then became a television commentator and columnist. As a member of the BCCI, Gavaskar held various duties and was nominated as chairman of the ICC cricket committee.
| ODI | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 108 | Run Scored: 3092 |
| Batting Average: 35.14 | Top Score: 103 |
| 100/50: 1/27 | Wickets: 1 |
| T20 | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 1 | Run Scored: 10 |
| Batting Average: 10 | Top Score: 10 |
| 100/50: 0/0 | Wickets: 1 |
| Test | |
|---|---|
| Matches: 125 | Run Scored: 10122 |
| Batting Average: 51.12 | Top Score: 236 |
| 200/100/50: 4/34/45 | Wickets: 1 |
Sachin Tendulkar of India fields during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Group B match between India and the Netherlands at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on March 9, 2011 in Delhi, India.
Sachin Tendulkar of India raises his bat on scoring his century during the Group B ICC World Cup Cricket match between India and South Africa at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on March 12, 2011 in Nagpur, India.
Sachin Tendulkar of India hits out watched by wicketkeeper Matt Prior of England during day five of the 4th npower Test Match between England and India at The Kia Oval on August 22, 2011 in London, England.
Sachin Tendulkar reach the iconic landmark of 100 international centuries against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in 2012
Sachin's first Test century
Sachin Tendulkar’s dream to hold the World Cup in his hands and in 2011 it finally happened.
