On his seventy
first birthday, it would be interesting to analyse the legacy of the only
genuine and successful opening batsman in Indian cricketing history, Sunil
Gavaskar. To many, he represented a perfectionist and one of the first
superstar batsmen in Indian cricketing world. His legacy stands magnificently
though it 33 years since he last played for India. When he retired, he was at a
stage where he could walk into a World Dream XI. Not just that, it would not be
surprising he was picked as an opener for the all-time World Dream XI.
He averaged over
fifty in test cricket though his one day record was far less impressive. But
then he played in an era dominated by test matches with one dayers just making
their appearance. He began his career for Bombay and got selected into the
Indian team touring the West Indies in 1971. There was controversy at the
dropping of Tiger Pataudi as the captain (selection committee chairman Vijay
Merchant used his casting vote to favour Ajit Wadekar). Wadekar was the first captain
from the ‘middle class’ someone outside the establishment of cricket. Till
then, it was only the royalists or patronised by the royals that ensured the
captaincy. Those who came from the middle class or ‘Aam Aadmi’ background were
hardly given preference and often ill-treated as the examples of Subhash Gupte
or Vijay Manjrekar demonstrated.
Though Sunny did
not play in the first test, he showed in the mettle in the second with half
centuries in each innings as India secured their first ever win against the
West Indies. He scored 774 runs in the four tests he played thus ensuring a
name in the record books. His centuries in each innings was only the second
occasion an Indian batsman had done so and he would repeat two more times. In
he fact he scored 705 runs against West Indies in 1978-79 thus becoming the
first batsman to score 700+ runs in a series against West Indies twice. He
developed a fascination of sorts for West Indies becoming the first batsman to
score more than 10 centuries against West Indies, a no mean achievement in
those days.
He might have
achieved in England later that summer of 1971, a series where India won for the
first time in England, but his career was underway. His performances were good
in the following home series against England and later the West Indies. In
1976, in the first test in New Zealand, he stood in as a captain for the first
time and won the test. In the series against West Indies that followed, he
saved the test with a hundred in Trinidad. The following test too was held in
Trinidad since it was raining heavily in Georgetown. At the Queen’s Park Oval,
India were set a target of 404 in the fourth innings. Sunil Gavaskar’s century
along with a hundred from GR Vishwanath ensured India chased it comfortably.
For nearly 27 years, it stood as the highest successful chase till West Indies
chased 418 against West Indies. The defeat rankled Clive Lloyd so much that he
decided to adopt bodyline in the following test in Kingston where more Indians
were dismissed retired hurt than getting out.
In 1977-78, as
India toured Australia which was affected by the Packer’s series with most of
their top players unavailable. Against second strength Australian side, Sunny
got hundreds and played a key role though India lost 3-2 the series. In fact,
Australia is one country, where Sunny Gavaskar got hundreds at all the test
playing venues in the country. For all his hundreds against West Indies, he did
not get one at St. Johns, Antigua where he played just one test.
In late 1978,
India toured Pakistan, the first series between the two sides in nearly 16
years. He was the only Indian batsman to stand against the Pakistani bowlers as
they wrapped up the series 2-0. It was the series that began the end of the
Indian spin quartet. He replaced Bishen Bedi as captain against the home series
against Packer depleted West Indies and won it 2-0. It was in England 1979 that
he came with the most memorable innings 221 when India nearly chased 439 in the
final innings at the final test in Oval. He secured a series wins at home
against Australia and Pakistan. He was to secure one more domestic series win
over England in 1981-82. This was the time he faced a lot of criticism for his
captaincy. India would seek to win the first test and then all tests would
meander into a draw with very slow bowling rates. Invariably test series under
Gavaskar became notorious for draws. Yet in his defence, it must be said, that
India having won the first test had no compulsions to opt for risk and instead
opted playing safe. It was the opponents who had to do all the chasing. It
might not appear to be sporting but professionalism at times is not all about
sport but gamesmanship.
As India toured
Pakistan in 1982-83, they were overawed and humbled to submission by Imran Khan.
Though Gavaskar got a hundred in the series, it was not great series as per his
series. He was dethroned as captain in the succeeding tour of West Indies.
Kapil Dev who replaced him went to win the World Cup in 1983, something where
Sunny hardly had any batting contribution. In what was billed as the revenge
series, West Indies toured India in late 1983 with the pace quartet, Marshall
in particular breathing fire. It was in the second test in Delhi, ostensibly
under Vasu Paranjape’s advice, Sunny completely turned the tables against the
Windies with quick fire 121, a dominance rarely associated with Sunny and
something that reminded of Stan McCabe in Bodyline 1932. This was his 29th
test hundred equalling Don Bradman’s record, which he broke in the final test
at Madras with an unbeaten 236, the highest individual score by an Indian
batsmen in test cricket. He regained captaincy few months later. Though he lost
against England, he led India to victory in Bicentennial tournament in
Australia in March 1985 proving that 1983 win was no fluke. Indian dominance in
that tournament was unparalleled. Sunny perhaps knew that his captaincy was on
the line and thus had announced that the tournament would be last stint as
captaincy.
He was the
master of timing, impeccable both on and off the field. He knew to time it
perfectly in quitting as captain as much he did in announcing his retirement as
player. He knew he played his last test against Pakistan at Bangalore in 1987
but could not announce the same. He wanted to have one last shot for a name on
the honours board in Lords which he did a few months later in Bicentennial
Test, post which he decided to call it a day stating the World Cup in 1987
would be his last. His last test innings a valiant 96 against Pakistan which
India lost narrowly is regarded as one of the greatest test innings of all
times.
For all his 34
centuries in tests, a record for a very long time till broken by Sachin
Tendulkar, he did not have a single one day hundred till he scored one against
New Zealand in what turned out to be his penultimate match. In fact, barring
Gavaskar, one cannot think of any Indian player who has retired to their timing
or their terms. Every Indian captain has had his captaincy taken away. They have
been virtually forced to announce their retirement. This is what made Gavaskar different as one
analyses the history of Indian cricket. He
had his controversies, for instance his rather infamous walk out in MCG, 1981,
a test which India eventually won. He had his differences with Kapil Dev that
came to the fore in the West Indies series in 1983 and later against England in
1984-85. He had his most infamous moment in the one dayer as he scored 36 not
out in 60 overs against England chasing 300+ in the opening match of the inaugural
World Cup.
In the post retirement
era, he made a name as renowned commentator and cricket writer. He coached for
a short while and was the administrator for IPL on the orders of the Supreme
Court. Aside of his controversies, few players have the wherewithal, talent and
genius management as Sunny did. In fact, barring Sunny, there is hardly any
natural opening batsman India has produced. Even Virender Sehwag despite his
two test triple hundreds as opener began his career as middle order batsman.
His batting was a league in its own and so was his approach to the game as a
whole. As one celebrates the 71st birthday, he has carved a name
among the very top in the global cricketing annals.
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