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[ellawilson]

Sunil Gavaskar has been the great batting legend in Indian Cricket.  He had many records against his name.  He was first to score 10000 runs in test cricket.  He had maximum number of centuries(34) in Test Cricket for many years.  He was most tecnically sound batsman.  Most of the bowlers used to comment that Gavaskar is the most difficult batsman to get out.  Gavaskar had only one century in One day Cricket.  It was his smashing strokeplay in the reliance World Cup match against Newzealand in 1987.  Who can forget his innings of 98 runs against pakistan in 1987 test match which is considered as one of the most patient and technically sound innings.  When Gavaskar came into team Indian won its first test series on West Indies soil.  Then also went on winning series in England.  Gavaskar was the only player to score centuries in each innings three times.  It was equalled by ricky Ponting in 2006.  In late 70's and 80's Gavaskar was also Caption of Indian team on Several occasions.  India won the test series against Pakistan by 2-0 in 1979-80 and Benson and Hedges One Day Matches world championship of cricket in 1985 in Australia in 1985 under his Captaincy.  It was just  like world cup tournament.



Gavaskar also wrote some books on cricket.  Among these were his famous autobiography "Sunny Days' and others were "Runs and Ruins" and "One Day Wonders. " Gavaskar was also a good slip player.  He became first Indian player to take  100 plus catches in test matches.  He had won padam vibhushan for his country and also been awarded wisden cricketer of the year in 1980.  Unlike many other players Gavaskar retired from international cricket in a very respectable way.  After retirement he served as commentator,did the job of advisor to Indian team in 2004 and these days is the chairman of Icc cricket committe.


These days the present generation remembers Tendulkar and Lara  but Gavaskar is the forgtten hero as public memory is very short.  Poeple used to stick to their Radio sets and transistors whenever Gavaskar came to bat.  He has technique and batting style of his own.  He was also the greatest defender and attacker of the ball who used to hit balls after seeing it throughly and do not touch the outside stump balls.  His greatness lies in his own words "Improve your basics first because Unless and untill your basics are not right you can not improve and  the best place to practice is in the match itself. "