Genius at work, Sunil Gavaskar

Nov 1992: Portrait of Sunil Gavaskar (left) and Sachin Tendulkar of India in Durban during India’s tour of South Africa

Sunil continued his imperious form against the English at their own backyard as India clinched their first win against their colonial masters at the Oval. While many a batsman found it tough in those conditions, Gavaskar was at his belligerent best. His technique was second to none. Often when treated with a bouncer, he would meet with a dead but straight bat, for the ball to fall dead at his feat. The closest we have seen that happen is when another master – Rahul Sharad Dravid – exercised that against the quickies.

One possibly can’t describe his whole career in an article, but let me take you through a few of his greatest moments on the 22 yards.

Gavaskar was widely admired for his technique against the quick bowlers. The year was 1979. India had just completed a successful series win against the Windies at home. Despite this, Gavaskar was stripped off his captaincy ahead of India’s very next tour of England.

India were 1-0 down going into the fourth Test of the series at The Oval. England set an imposing 438 for the Indians to chase with a day and a quarter to go. At stumps on day 4, India were 76 for the loss of no wicket. The stage was set for a Gavaskar classic. He cut with precision. He drove with immaculate timing. And most of all, he time and again smashed the English bowlers down the ground. However, Botham, playing his first Test, spoiled the party to end India’s chance of scripting a famous victory as the team ended up just 9 runs short.

Then came the heroic triumph of the ’83 World Cup. Gavaskar didn’t play a major role in the tournament scoring a paltry 59 runs in all, as his jaw was injured in one of the many bouncers bowled by the great West Indian quartet. His greatest contribution in the tournament was a 25 in the semi-final against a potent English bowling attack.

What followed one of India’s finest cricketing moments, in a span of 2 years, was the 1985 World Championship. ‘Sunny’ led his team from the front as India won the tournament. Indian openers Ravi Shastri and Krishnamachari Srikkanth had wonderful tournaments, with Srikkanth winning the Player-of-the-Match in the finals and Shastri the Player-of-the-Tournament.

“Of all his qualities, the one that stands out is GUTS. He opened the batting in more than a hundred Tests, against the fastest of bowlers, and had the better of them. The combination of guts, determination, discipline and dedication made him the all time great he is.” – Sachin Tendulkar on the ‘Little Master’.

Mind you, as an opener, he faced the likes of Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thompson, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Malcom Marshall, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and ‘Whispering Death’ Michael Holding among others. That my friends are possibly the greatest fast bowlers to have graced the game, and Sunil Manohar Gavaskar tamed them all.

Gavaskar was part of an era that included the likes of Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, the Chappel brothers, Geoffrey Boycott, Graham Gooch and Zaheer Abbas, to name a few. But Gavaskar was always heralded above the rest due to his technique and his ability to play the best in the business with consummate ease.

Every time he performed his best on a cricket field, the connoisseur is sure that it is a manifestation of a genius. Some work to win, some slog to win. Gavaskar, on the other hand, was born to win.