Sport | Cricket
Sunil Gavaskar looks back as he turns 60
The legendary 'Little Master', Sunil Gavaskar, who broke all batting records to clinch a place among the top batsmen in the '80s, turns 60 today.
- By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Deputy Sports Editor
- Published: 22:45 July 9, 2009
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
- The biggest satisfaction was to be part of the winning side ... like the 1971 wins against the West Indies and later in England ... and of course the greatest win of them all in the 1983 World Cup, says Gavaskar.
Dubai: The legendary 'Little Master', Sunil Gavaskar, who broke all batting records to clinch a place among the top batsmen in the '80s, turns 60 today.
Hailing from a middle class family in Mumbai, he went on to become the greatest opening batsman the world had ever seen.
He became the first batsman to cross the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket to leave an indelible mark in the history of the game.
Gavaskar's mastery over his batting was phenomenal. Considered one among the most technically perfect batsmen, he had the ability to handle the fastest of bowlers with ease.
With his enormous powers of concentration and brilliance, he broke the record for the highest number of centuries in Tests.
Though it has been over two decades since he retired, his delectable straight drives and immaculate defence still live in the memories of his fans around the world.
He inspired many youngsters to follow his footsteps, which include Sachin Tendulkar, who eventually broke Gavaskar's records.
In a free-wheeling chat with Gulf News, Gavaskar spoke about his journey to the pinnacle of glory and life after cricket.
Gulf News: How does it feel looking back at your career as a player and the days after you called it a day?
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Sunil Gavaskar: It's been quite hectic after I quit the game, so I really haven't had the time to look back and reflect on my career. But as a schoolboy, the ambition was to play for the country and to be able to do that for 16 years was a fantastic feeling.
What do you still reckon as the turning point of your career?
There is no specific turning point that I can think of, but one that comes to my mind is when the great Gary Sobers dropped a simple catch of mine in my debut innings when I was only on 12. This let me go on to score a half century and thus give a start to my Test career.
Was breaking records and getting to the top among the greatest run-getters of the era, the most satisfying moment of your career? Or what is it that gave you the utmost satisfaction?
The biggest satisfaction was to be part of the winning side ... like the 1971 wins in the West Indies and later in England.
Then there was the 400-plus chase against the West Indies in 1976, the win against Pakistan in 1979-80 and of course, the greatest win of them all, in the 1983 World Cup. These were most satisfying moments.
What do you think was the secret of your success as a player?
I think it was God's grace that I got some success; but He also gave me lots of determination and concentration which helped me in my cricket.
Among your many great knocks, which one do you reckon as the best and why?
The knock that satisfied me the most was the 57 against England at Old Trafford, Manchester in 1971.
It was a green grassy pitch and there was a light rain falling, freshening it up even more and it was cold too; and to have batted in those conditions was really testing. That was my first experience of a green top pitch.
The bowler you respected the most and why ...
I respected all the bowlers because they were good enough to be picked for their country. I also played against some of the really great bowlers in world cricket like the West Indian quick bowling quartet [Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Michael Holding], Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz and later Wasim Akram, Abdul Qadir, Iqbal Qasim, Ian Botham, Bob Willis, Derek Underwood, Richard Hadlee, Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson to name a few.
But the one bowler that had to be constantly watched out for was Andy Roberts because you could be batting at a 100-plus and he could still bowl an unplayable ball.
How happy are you with the progress of Sachin Tendulkar who followed your footsteps? And how does it feel when youngsters race past your records?
I am delighted with Sachin's achievements. He has made all of India proud with his deeds, both with the bat and ball. But most importantly, he is such a wonderful role model for aspiring youngsters.
Despite all his achievements and success, he remains a down-to-earth person with utmost respect for the seniors in the game.
Why was it that your best always came against the West Indies?
The West Indies were the best team in the '70s and '80s and when you are playing against the best, the intensity level also increases.
Was there any unfulfilled goal for you in cricket?
I did not have any real ambition apart from making sure that I did not make a fool of myself at the Test level. So everything other than that has been a bonus. On a lighthearted note, I wanted to get to a Test century with a six, but fell just short against Australia in Mumbai in 1986.
What is your advice to the youngsters who love to emulate you?
Have an aim in life and then focus on it totally. Dream big, work hard and you can do it.
Do you think Gavaskar is the greatest batsman India has ever produced? How popular is he among younger fans?
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