Happy Birthday Sunil Gavaskar:
Renowned as the 'Little Master' in the cricketing world, Sunil Gavaskar marks a special day today (10 July). The former captain of the Indian cricket team and legendary figure turns 75 years old. He forged numerous historic records throughout his cricket career.
Standing at 5 feet 5 inches, Gavaskar has played memorable innings in the longest format of cricket, which are etched in the memories of fans. He is the world's first batsman to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs and 34 centuries in Test cricket.
There are many anecdotes from Gavaskar's life that astonish fans. Yet, there's one reality that could have drastically altered his entire life. At birth, an incident at the hospital could have rewritten his destiny. Had a nurse's mistake not been corrected, Gavaskar might not have been a cricketing great.
An incident at the hospital with Gavaskar
In his autobiography 'Sunny Days', Gavaskar reveals, 'I would never have been a cricketer nor this book written... if it weren't for Narayan Masurekar's keen observation.'
Gavaskar recounts, 'When I was born, he (later called Non-Kaka) noticed a birthmark on my ear. The next day when he visited the hospital, the baby he held did not have that mark. An extensive search followed, and they eventually found me sleeping beside a fisherman's wife.'
Source: aajtak
I could have been a fisherman: Gavaskar
Gavaskar divulges, 'The nurse had mistakenly placed me there, likely during bathing. Had my uncle not been attentive that day, I might have ended up a fisherman.' Notably, Gavaskar credits his father Manohar and mother Meenal for their crucial roles in shaping his illustrious cricket career, having played with tennis balls in his childhood as his mother bowled to him.
Gavaskar made his Test debut during the 1971 West Indies tour. In that debut series against the West Indies, he scored a record 774 runs in 4 Test matches, including an average of 154.80. This remains the highest run tally by anyone in a debut Test series.
Most runs in a debut Test series:
Sunil Gavaskar (India)- 4 matches, 774 runs, 154.80 average, four centuriesGeorge Headley (West Indies)- 4 matches, 703 runs, 87.87 average, four centuriesConrad Hunte (West Indies)- 5 matches, 622 runs, 77.75 average, three centuriesHerbert Collins (Australia)- 5 matches, 557 runs, 61.88 average, two centuriesBarry Richards (South Africa)- 4 matches, 508 runs, 72.57 average, two centuries
Gavaskar's performance during the 1971 West Indies tour:
Port of Spain Test- first innings 65 runs, second innings 67* runsGeorgetown Test- first innings 116 runs, second innings 64* runsBridgetown Test- first innings 1 run, second innings 117 runsPort of Spain Test- first innings 124 runs, second innings 220 runs
Source: aajtak
Twice the century in both innings of a match
Gavaskar achieved the feat of scoring centuries in both innings of a Test match three times, the only Indian to do so. In the 1971 debut series, he scored 124 and 220 runs against the West Indies in Port of Spain.
Following that, he scored 111 and 137 runs against Pakistan in the 1978 Karachi Test, a performance still cherished by fans. That same year, Gavaskar also succeeded in scoring centuries in both innings of the Kolkata Test against the West Indies, recording innings of 107 and 182 runs.
Gavaskar's international cricket record
Across his 16-year Test career (1971-1987), Sunil Gavaskar played in 125 Test matches and scored 10,122 runs, including 34 centuries and 45 half-centuries, with an average of 51.12. His 34-century record was broken by Sachin Tendulkar in 2005. Gavaskar scored 3092 runs in 108 One Day Internationals at an average of 35.13, with only one century that came in his 107th match. He was also part of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team.
Gavaskar captained India in 47 Test and 37 One Day Internationals, with 9 wins and 8 losses in Tests, while 30 matches ended in a draw. Under his leadership, the Indian team won 14 ODIs, lost 21, and two were inconclusive.
