New Delhi: Sunil Gavaskar, a short-height batsman who faced and won against every challenge thrown at him. The ‘Little Master’ is credited to have scored 10,122 Test runs at an average of 51.12 having played 125 games. His cricketing career is beautifully decorated with 34 Test and 1 ODI centuries.
As ‘Sunny’ Gavaskar turns 73 on July 10, take a look at 5 greatest innings played by him:
5. 102 vs West Indies (1976)
India was facing the mighty West Indies of the 70s era. In the first innings, the Windies posted a total of 359 as Sir Vivian Richards scored a massive 177. In reply, India got all out for 228 as Michael ‘Whispering Death’ Holding took 6 wickets. In the 2nd inning, it was Alvin Kallicharan who stood and scored a hundred to give India a huge target of 403. A target above 400 runs looks unachievable even today, and in those times scoring runs against West Indian fast bowlers was a deal no one could crack.
However, Indian batsmen had other plans that day. Suni Gavaskar stood and played an inning that will always be remembered in the history of cricket. He scored 102 chasing a target of 400+. When he got out, India was in a comfortable position of 177/2. It was Mohinder Amarnath (85), Gundappa Viswanath (112) and Brijesh patel (49*) who finished the job for India. India registered what can be said to be one of the greatest chases in the history of Test cricket to date.
4. 221 vs England (1979)
The Englishmen posted a total of 305 in the first inning, to which India replied with a score of 202. The confident England team, with Geoffrey Boycott scoring a century in the 2nd inning, declared 334/8. Then came a chase that shook the cricketing world. For India, Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan opened the inning and posted 213 in their partnership.
Sunil Gavaskar went on to score 221 and Sushil Doshi, a commentator, called out to the “weak-hearted” listeners to switch off the radio as India closed in on a win. But as Gavaskar got out, India lost wickets in quick succession. India had to settle for a draw just nine runs shy of a record-breaking win.
3. 236* vs West Indies (1983)
This was a special game for Gavaskar as he set and broke records here. West Indies began the game by scoring 313 and when India came out to bat, Gavaskar was not opening. India lost 2 wickets for no run. Then came an inning by the ‘Little Master’ which went on to define him as one of the greatest cricketers ever.
Gavaskar played 425 balls and scored 236* in a game where Malcolm Marshall was throwing the ball of fire. This score became Gavaskar’s highest ever score in Test cricket and also he reached his 30th Test century as he edge past Don Bradman in the list of centuries.
2. 103* vs New Zealand (1987)
Gavaskar’s only ODI century came against New Zealand in the 1987 World Cup. Batting first New Zealand gave a target of 222 runs to India. For India, Gavaskar came to open with Krishnamachari Srikkanth. Kris Srikkanth was known to be an attacking batsman, but that was Gavaskar’s day. They posted a partnership of 136 runs when Srikkanth got out for 75(58).
Gavaskar played on to finish the game along with Mohammad Azharuddin and scored 103* in just 88 balls. Gavaskar was a player who took his time and played defensively while Srikkanth went for the attack. It was a different day, a day that is registered in the books of history. India won the game comfortably by 9 wickets. Gavaskar shared the Player of the Match with Chetan Sharma, who had taken a hat-trick.
1. 96 vs Pakistan (1987)
One of the greatest knocks, that can be used to define grit on the field of cricket. Pakistan got a weak start as they got all out for just 116. India also did not do well as the team managed only 145 runs in the 1st inning. Pakistan bettered their score and posted 249 in the 2nd inning, giving a target of 221 to India.
It was not a huge target but India was losing one wicket after the other. A bowling attack led by Wasim Akram, Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed was not easy to play. As India lost 2 wickets for 15, one man named Sunil Gavaskar, decided to stand and fight. He ended up scoring 96 off 264 balls but got out when India was at a score of 180. Eventually, India lost that match, but the inning played by Gavaskar is always remembered for his courage and determination.
This Test against Pakistan was the last Test played by Gavaskar. he ended a memorable Test career with a powerful knock.
