In India Cricket is synonymous with the name of Gavaskar,Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar.In the late sixties one short statured lanky lad from Mumbai(then Bombay)took domestic cricket scene by storm.His batting was flawless and copy book personified.Later on he became the Little Master and Calypso songs were compsed in praise of his outstanding batting prowess.He was Sunil Manohar Gavaskar.Batting for him was worship and he was a devotee performing his prayers,an artist with all the artistry.With the advent of him,Indian Cricket had stormed at International scenario.
Gavaskar had strong will power and had always been a great improviser.His perseverance and doggedness were unflinching.He faced the fury of deadliest of pace bowlers of his times just imagine facing pace battery of Lillee,Thomson,Holding,Garner,John Snow,Richard Hadlee,Imran Khan,Malcom Marshall,Wes Hall,Lawson,Srafaraj Nawaz,Wasim Akram,Sikandar Bakht andAndy Roberts; but he never put on a helmet as he had faith in his batting technique.Gavaskar brought indian cricket to international level as during his period he was comparable with Sir Don Bradman.In his peer group were luminaries like Geoff Boycott,Gordon Greenidge,Vivian Richards,Zaheer Abbas,Javed Miandad,Allan Border,Dileep Sardesai,Mohinder Amarnath,Duleep Mendis,KimHughes,Glen Turner,Martin Crow,Kallicharan,David Gower,Greig Chappel and Clive Loyed.His shine was unaffected in spite of these maestroes on the scene.His 774 in his debue series vs.Westindies thundered the cricketing world that no matter how how high is the mountain of cricket,Sunny has arrived on the scene to conquer it.He was instrumental in India's emphatic first time overseas series wins in West Indies and in England.His 29th test century was full of dare devil strokeplay and fast paced,and that so against the pace battery of Marshall,Roberts and Holding.
Before the start of World Championship of Cricket in 1985,on the bouncy tracks of Australia;David Gower,captain of England had sarcastically remarked that Gavaskar needs some lessons on how to captain a side in one dayers.Funnily enough,Gower's English team was ousted in intial round of the tournament,and Gavskar led India to victory without losing a single match in the tournament.He left captaincy with a world winning taste.He won test series against Pakistan,England,West Indies andAustralia.Won India world championship of Cricket in 1985 and Inaugural Asia Cup in 1982.He won the first test match as captain in NewZealand.
Even Sir Don called him an ornament to the game.He rose from a very humble Marathi family.He had seen what life is and it boosted his confidence to carve out a niche for himself.He had to work very hard to establish himself as a reliable opening batsman.And see the magic of Sunil Gavaskar that he became legend in his playing days only.He has always been humble family man with values and respect for Indian culture.He dedicated his autobiography Sunny Days to his Aai-Baba(Mother-father)He had always been staunch supporter for India and Indian values.Always criticised the snobbery and whims if he spotted any against the dignity of anyone.
Gavaskar has commendable flair for writing as well.His books are lucid and delightful.Sunny Days,Idols,Runs and Ruins,Idols all are worth reading.His selection of words is apt and he has that element of ready wit and sense of humour.
Sunil Gavsakar along with Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar form the formidable signature of Indian genius on the history of world Cricket.
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