Sunil Gavaskar Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Sunil Gavaskar played cricket in the 1970s and 1980s.  Sunil Gavaskar set world records and is considered one of the greatest opening batsmen in the history of the sport.

Childhood And Early Life

Sunil Gavaskar was born on July 10, 1949, in Mumbai, India.   His parents Manohar and Meenal raised him in a middle-class family. 

Cricket was a part of his household.  His father played well, and his uncle on his mother's side of the family was a former wicketkeeper for the Indian Test.  

Education

While in secondary school, Sunil Gavaskar was named India's Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1966.   Sunil Gavaskar attended St. Xavier College, which was well-known for its cricket team.  His first-class debut was with the Vazir Sultan Colts XI during the 1966-1967 season.

Career

Sunil Gavaskar's success in college led to his selection on the 1970-1971 Indian team.  His test debut was against the West Indies in March 1971.  In that first year that Gavaskar played international cricket,  Sunil Gavaskar scored 774 runs in his debut test series on the West Indies tour. 

Sunil Gavaskar was the first Indian to achieve that feat.  In that same debut, he helped India defeat the West Indies for the first time.   Sunil Gavaskar scored a century and double century in the same match, which had only been done one other time before.   Sunil Gavaskar was the first Indian to make four centuries in one Test series. 

With such an excellent start to his international career,  Sunil Gavaskar had established high expectations for himself in the eyes of his fans.  The pressure got to him when he went on his next tour.  In England, he did not repeat his success.  However, he continued to play well for the team.  

Sunil Gavaskar proved that he was worthy in the 1970s with continued world records.  For example in 1976, Gavaskar became the first Indian to reach 1000 Test runs in one calendar year. In the 1978-1979 season, Sunil Gavaskar became the leading Test run-scorer in India.   Sunil Gavaskar became the first player in Test history to achieve centuries in both innings of a Test three times.  

Sunil Gavaskar was captain of the Indian team in the late 1970s to the early 1980s.  However, most of his games ended in a draw because he was too conservative.   Sunil Gavaskar was replaced by leading pace bowler Kapil Dev. 

After a few years, Sunil Gavaskar returned to the captain position but was later replaced by Dev once again. Even when India was not winning their test matches,  Sunil Gavaskar proved his ability time and time again.  His final Test was India versus Pakistan at Bangalore in March of 1987, and he retired officially after the 1987 Cricket World Cup in India.

Later Life

After cricket, Sunil Gavaskar kept busy with some activities.   Sunil Gavaskar also continued following the sport as a commentator and adviser to the India national cricket team.  For a time, he was the Chairman of the ICC cricket committee.

Personal Life And Legacy

Sunil Gavaskar married Marshneil.  Their son Rohan also plays cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar who has been nicknamed “Sunny” and “Little Master,” made cricket his passion from a very early start.   Sunil Gavaskar set records and set the bar high for future cricket players.   Sunil Gavaskar wrote books on the sport as well as his own memoirs.

Awards And Achievements  

•    India's Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, 1966
•    First Test cricket player to make over 10,000 runs
•    Highest number of test centuries, 34
•    Highest run-maker in a debut, 774
•    First cricketer to play 100 consecutive test matches
•    Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, 1980
•    Appointed the honorary post of Sheriff of Mumbai, 1994
•    Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for Cricket, 2012

Summary Of Major Works

Cricket Test Record

•    Matches – 122
•    Runs Scored – 10,122
•    Batting Average – 51.12
•    100s/50s – 34/45

Cricket ODI Record

•    Matches – 108
•    Runs Scored – 3,092
•    Batting Average – 35.13
•    100s/50s – 1/27

Books

•    Sunny Days:  An Autobiography (1976)
•    Idols (1984)

Film

•    Savli Premachi, leading role