Top 3 knocks by Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Mark Leech/Getty Images)

India legend Sunil Gavaskar is celebrating his 74th birthday today. He served India for 16 years from 1971-87 and during this period, he achieved several batting feats. For the majority of his international career, he played in the team as an opening batter. In Tests, he is the first Indian batter to cross the 10000-run mark.

Till December 2005, he also held the record of scoring the most centuries (34 tons) in the longest format of the sport. In 1971, Gavaskar made his international debut during India’s tour of the West Indies. Playing his maiden series, he notched up 774 runs with four tons and three fifties in eight innings of four Tests.

With these numbers, he still holds the record of being the player to score the most runs in his debut Test series. In his extraordinary career, Gavaskar produced several knocks from his bat that are still recalled by followers of the sport.

Here are the top three knocks of Sunil Gavaskar:

3. 103* vs New Zealand in World Cup 1987

Sunil Gavaskar vs New Zealand. (Photo Source: Twitter)

In the 1987 World Cup, Gavaskar played the best One-Day International (ODI) knock of his career. Playing the last group game in Nagpur, India thrashed New Zealand by nine wickets. Earlier, in the game, New Zealand skipper Jeff Crowe won the toss and elected to bat first.

Against India’s disciplined bowling, New Zealand batters lost nine wickets and ended their innings with a low total of 221 in 50 overs. Chetan Sharma played a crucial role with the ball in containing the Black Caps to a sub-par score, picking up 3/51 figures in his 10-over spell.

Following the target, Gavaskar came heavily on the Kiwi bowlers, along with his opening partner Kris Srikkanth. Gavaskar scored his maiden ODI ton and took India home comfortably in the 33rd over of the game. Gavaskar went back to the pavilion unbeaten with his score of 103 off just 88 deliveries. For his extraordinary knock, he also became the joint Player of the Match along with his teammate Chetan Sharma.

2. 220 vs West Indies in 1971

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

In the 1970s, clinching a Test series against the West Indies wasn’t an ordinary achievement for any team. The Indian team toured the Caribbean islands to take on the Garry Sobers-led West Indies in 1971 and returned successfully, winning the five-match Test series by a 1-0 margin under Ajit Wadekar’s captaincy.

Following a seven-wicket win in the second Test at Port of Spain, it was essential for India to be at their best in the next three games. In the fifth Test at Port of Spain, India and the West Indies faced each other again. India skipper Ajit Wadekar won the toss and elected to bat first.

In the first innings, India posted 360 runs on the board, riding on Gavaskar’s sensational innings of 124, Dilip Sardesai’s 75, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan’s 51. In reply to India’s total, the Caribbean side scored 526. The Windies skipper Sobers stepped up in the important game and scored 132 runs.

After the Windies team’s strong response, India were required to showcase character to win the game. Gavaskar, who scored a century in the first innings, took the Windies’ bowling unit to the cleaners again. This time, he played an exceptional knock of 220 runs. In the end, the match concluded in a stalemate and India succeeded in registering their first Test series win on the Caribbean soil.

1. 236* vs West Indies in 1983

Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Following the 1983 World Cup win, India faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of the West Indies in ODIs and Tests at home. After five matches of the six-match Test series, the Windies had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead. In the last Test in Chennai, India played for pride against the visitors.

The West Indies captain Clive Lloyd called it right at the toss and chose to bat first. In the first innings, the visitors racked up 313 runs, riding on their wicketkeeper batter Jeff Dujon’s 62-run innings. Following the Windies’ total, India started horrendously as Anshuman Gaekwad and Dilip Vengsarkar got dismissed early.

However, it was Gavaskar again who took the matter into his own hands and chalked up a double ton. At one stage, India were five down at a score of 92 but Gavaskar utilised his experience and stitched a 170-run partnership with Ravi Shastri, who also chipped in with 72 runs.

India declared their innings on 451 and Gavaskar went back to the pavilion with his unbeaten knock of 236. The match ended in a stalemate and Gavaskar received the Player of the Match award for his stunning batting display.