Sunil Manohar Gavaskar, born on 10 July 1949, is a former Indian cricketer and current cricket commentator, representing India and Bombay from 1971 to 1987. Acknowledged as one of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history, Gavaskar gained widespread admiration for his exceptional technique, particularly against fast bowling. His impressive average of 65.45 against the West Indies, known for their formidable four-pronged fast bowling attack, is noteworthy, being considered one of the most aggressive in Test history. It’s important to highlight that most of Gavaskar’s centuries against the West Indies were achieved when their full fast bowling attack was not playing together. In addition to his batting prowess, Gavaskar’s captaincy of the Indian team is recognized for its attacking style. Under his leadership, India secured victories in the 1984 Asia Cup and the Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket in 1985. The era also witnessed multiple exchanges of captaincy between Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, with one occurring just six months before Kapil led India to win the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Apart from his cricket career, Gavaskar has also served as the Sheriff of Mumbai.
Gavaskar has been honored with the Arjuna Award, a prestigious Indian sports accolade, and the Padma Bhushan, a notable civilian honor. Sunil Gavaskar conveyed his mixed emotions following India’s defeat to Australia in the ICC World Cup 2023 final, captained by Rohit Sharma. While expressing sorrow over the team’s loss, the cricket legend also took immense pride in the overall performance of the Men in Blue. In an interview with Star Sports, Gavaskar remarked, “I’m sad. This team played such terrific cricket for 10 games but just wasn’t able to take that one step that could have got them the trophy. But with that said, I think all of us have to be mighty proud of them.”
As a member of the Star commentary team, Gavaskar highlighted the team’s remarkable journey to the final, showcasing superb cricket and dominating their opponents in consecutive matches. He acknowledged the role of luck in sports and pointed out instances where fortune did not favor the Indian team in the final. Gavaskar added, “There’s no shame in losing to the five-time champions. They know how to win the finals. Very proud of all the effort that they’ve done, very proud of the joy that they have given millions who have been following them.” The cricket legend, part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, underscored the team’s achievements and the pride they brought to their fans, irrespective of the final outcome.
