Born on July 10, 1949, in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Manohar and Meenal Gavaskar. There is a curious story after he was born. He was born with a hole near the top of his left ear lobe. This birth mark was noticed only by his uncle but the next day, it vanished, leading to shock. Later, it was discovered that Gavaskar had been mysteriously switched at birth, found asleep beside a fisherwoman, but he was fortunately restored to his family thereafter.
A the age of 17, Gavaskar was selected as ‘India’s Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year’ in 1966. The youngster made the first-class debut for Vazir Sultan Colt’s XI against Dungarpur XI in the annual Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup tournament, 1966-67.
He made his Test debut against the West Indies in March 1971, impressively scoring 65 and an unbeaten 67 in the match, demonstrating his skill and technique against a strong West Indian bowling lineup. His outstanding performance continued throughout the series, where he amassed a record-breaking 774 runs. Gavaskar had a remarkable international cricket career, notably as the opening batsman for the Indian team for nearly two decades.
In 1973, during a cricket match in Delhi, Marshneil and her friends attended and requested autographs from Indian cricketers during lunch break. While most of them were busy collecting signatures, Marshneil approached him for an autograph, and in that moment, Gavaskar was captivated by her. Months later, in Kanpur, Gavaskar proposed to Marshneil, who joyfully accepted. On September 23, 1974, after a year of courtship, the couple exchanged vows and got married.
Gavaskar was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1975 for his outstanding contributions to the sport. His skill, determination, and record-breaking feats made him a cricketing legend, and the Arjuna Award symbolized his remarkable impact on the game.
On February 20, 1976, Sunil Gavaskar and his wife welcomed their son, Rohan, into the world. Sunil Gavaskar honoured his three favorite cricketers, Rohan Kanhai, M. L. Jaisimha, and Rohan’s uncle Gundappa Vishwanath, by giving his son the name Rohan Jaivishwa.
Sunil Gavaskar is also a prolific writer. His notable works encompass autobiographies like “Sunny Days” and themed books such as “Idols” and “One Day Wonders.” Through his writings, Gavaskar reflects on cricket’s evolution, shares personal anecdotes, and pays homage to his cricketing heroes. His literary contributions extend to titles like “Runs and Ruins” and “The Sunil Gavaskar Omnibus,” potentially a collection of his diverse writings.
In the 4th Test match v/s England, in the second innings Gavaskar played an epic innings scoring 221 runs which enabled India to reach 429 runs for 8 wickets and fell short just by 9 runs in what would have been one of the greatest Test win of all times.
Gavaskar also tried his hand at acting on the silver screen. He played the lead role in the Marathi movie “Savli Premachi”. After many years he appeared in a guest role in hindi movie “Maalamaal” , with Naseeruddin Shah and Satish Shah. He has sung a marathi song “Ya Duniyemadhye Thambayaala Vel Konala” which was written by noted marathi lyricist Shantaram Nandgaonkar. The song depicted the similarities between a cricket match and real life. The song was based on his 1971 batting exploits against the Windies.
During the 1983 Cricket World Cup, Sunil Gavaskar’s experience was crucial for the young Indian team. He scored 59 runs against the West Indies and 8 runs against Zimbabwe but did not have any significant contributions in the other matches. Still his familiarity with English conditions and role as a mentor under Kapil Dev’s leadership helped stabilise the team and guide younger players through pressure situations.
Gavaskar breaks Don Bradman’s record of 29 Test centuries after 35 years at Madras against the West Indies in his 99th Test match. Gavaskar eventually scored 236 n.o., his highest score in Test cricket. Don Brandman whose record he broke, offered him a great compliment in his congratulatory message: ”You’re an ornament to cricket”.
Gavaskar captains the Indian team to win the World Championship of Cricket in Australia. India beats Pakistan in the Final. This World Championship victory came on the heels of the 1983 World Cup Victory. The cricket world could not believe that the Indians could be so brilliant, so when people would ask Gavaskar about it he was sarcastically reply that “1983 was Fluke 1 and 1985 was Fluke 2.”
Gavaskar’s decision not to wear a helmet during his cricket career stemmed from the prevailing norms and equipment of his era, particularly the 1970s and early 1980s. It was primarily a personal choice influenced by his confidence in his batting technique and judgment against fast bowling. He believed that helmets could potentially impede his performance, preferring to rely on his skill. He elaborated on this decision by mentioning a reason, stating that his habit of reading before sleeping and often falling asleep while reading weakened his neck muscles. He feared that wearing a helmet might further slow down his reflexes while facing bouncers.
In 1987, at the age of 38, Gavaskar decided to end his illustrious international cricket career. His final Test, against Pakistan, ended with a valiant 96 runs, highlighting his fighting spirit even in his farewell match. When Gavaskar was asked why he is retiring after playing a wonderful knock, his reply was ” Retire when people ask Why and not Why Not?”
Gavaskar held many records at the time of retirement.
a.Highest Scorer in Test Cricket – 10122 runs. b. Highest number of appearances 125 Tests c. Highest number of consecutive appearances 106 Tests d. Highest number of Centuries – 34 centuries e. Highest number of fifties – 45 fifties. f. First batsman to score 9000 and 10000 runs in Test cricket. g. First cricketer to play 100 consecutive Tests. h. First batsman to score 1000 test runs in a calendar year, on 4 occasions in 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1983.
After retiring from cricket in 1987, Sunil Gavaskar pursues a successful career in commentary and sports journalism, known for his insightful analysis and witty observations. His presence in the commentary box and contributions to publications have entertained fans and since 1990, the legendary batsman has been one of the most renowned global commentators.
Gavaskar saved a Muslim family from a violent mob during the 1993 Bombay riots. Rohan his son recollects “We were standing on our terrace right after the bomb blasts, a few days later, when we saw a hate mob, and they had cornered a family. We knew they did not have any good intentions towards the family and dad saw that, ran down and confronted the hate mob. He told the mob, ‘whatever you are going to do that family, you are going to do to me first’, and then better sense prevailed and the family was allowed to go its way.”
Gavaskar is sworn is as the Sheriff of Bombay. The Sheriff of Mumbai is responsible for assisting the city’s mayor in various civic and ceremonial duties. It was an honor bestowed upon him in acknowledgment of his contributions to sports and society.
In 2003, Gavaskar became the first Indian cricketer to deliver the MCC Spirit Of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture. It serves as a platform for cricketing personalities to discuss important topics such as sportsmanship, integrity, and the role of cricket in society.
Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame for his exceptional contribution to the sport. This honour recognizes not only his impressive cricketing achievements, like being the first player to cross 10,000 Test runs, but also his leadership qualities, is an inspiration to countless aspiring cricketers.
On October 15, 2017, the ‘Sunil M. Gavaskar Cricket Field’ was inaugurated in Louisville, Kentucky, becoming the first international sporting facility named after an Indian sportsperson. Situated in the USA, it serves as the home ground for the Louisville Cricket Club, showcasing cricket’s global popularity and honoring Gavaskar’s legendary career and impact on the sport.