Luck played a big part at the start of my career, says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar represented India in 125 Tests and 108 ODIs between 1971 and 1987

Great Sunil Gavaskar said luck has played an important role in his life and his career proves it. He went down to memory lane to talk about his cricket's 16 years.

Gavaskar talked about a couple of incidents that happened during his Test career. Especially he spoke about the India tour of West Indies in 1971 where he made his debut.

"I am here today only because of luck. Couple of incidents which happened against the West Indies in 1971 tour earlier on in my career proves it.

"In one of the Tests against them, I was batting on six when I hit a square cut and the ball was really travelling. Gary Sobers was fielding in the background and the ball hit him in the chest and fell in the ground and I survived. I went on to score a half-century," the former Indian captain recalled during the launch of former India opener Madhav Apte's autobiography 'As Luck Would Have It'.

Gavaskar scored 10,122 runs in 125 Tests at an average of 51.12, he further talked about his first century by adding luck played a part during his first big knock.

"On my way to my first Test century, I was on 94 when I played forward to a off-spinner and Gary used to stand just at the back of my back pocket and he was that close. But in anticipation that because I moved forward, Gary moved to his left towards forward short leg.

"The ball hit my gloves and popped back. If Gary would have been in the same position he was before, then it would have been a simple catch for him. Although he had to dive for it he couldn't get it. And I went on to get a hundred. Now if that is not luck then I do not know what luck is," the 65-year-old said.

Mumbaikar added saying that Gary Sobers got back to fine form after just touching him before every match to get some luck.

"And that evening itself we, the Indian team and the West Indian team came close to each other. Those were the days players came close to each other from different teams in opposition dressing rooms, Gavaskar, who scored 34 Test hundreds, recollected.

"In the evening when we were having a get together, Gary started to tease me about luck. He said 'you are so lucky man you got to a hundred you got a ton'. Then Gary said I am going to come and touch you now.

"As Gary was going through a lean patch at that time as a batsman, every morning he used to come to our dressing room and say hello to skipper Ajit Wadekar and others and touched me. He then went on to get a hundred.

"In the next match he again came to dressing room and touched me and again got a 78. Then in the fifth Test before Sobers coming to our dressing room, Wadekar locked me in the toilet so that Gary couldn't touch me. Then next day first ball Gary was out bowled for a zero," Gavaskar concluded.