What is there in my memory today is a young unknown batsman called Gavaskar coming to the West Indies. Ajiet Wadekar was the captain. There was an all-rounder with the name of Eknath Solkar and a very accurate batsman called Sardesai. West Indies had a very accurate and deadly pace attack. At the start of the innings Gavaskar was playing a very different game. He was watching each and every ball very carefully in the first few overs in Guyana were I first saw him batting. Taking his time to read the bowlers, that’s what Gavaskar did first. And then he stood up like a soldier and proved his ability to battle it out in a crisis. Gavaskar’s strokes displayed the breathtaking audacity of a true batting machine. His defense was unparalleled in cricket history. After settling he executed a breathtaking assault on the West Indian bowling. Not an all-out attack but one full of precision. West Indian players like Kanhai and Sobers two superb West Indian players were taken by surprise. The little man Sunil Gavaskar became the little maestro at the international level for India in the 70s and early 80s. Youngsters can learn from this great batsman. Happy Birthday Gavaskar. (Mr.Varma from the West Indies)
On his 60th birthday everybody is talking his batting skills.No one stated about his main gift to Indian Cricket & that is CONFIDENCE TO WITHSTAND WITH GUTS & TO SHAKE HANDS WITH FAST & FURIOUS BOWLERS.Before the rise of SUNNY display of Indian batsman against FAST BOWLERS was pathetic.The message " Don't throw your wicket & stay put" was a priceless contribution If you find a parallel & equivalent to Sunny's cricketing personality you can apply a crieteria,a benchmark in attaching a price tag. If u can't find & I am sure one will not, worth of SUNNY GAVASKAR can not be measured.
SG was a true legend to star for India in World Cricket.He batted magnificently against the great world class bowlers of that times may be it Ian Botham ,Malcom Marshall & other carrabieans including Aussie and Pakis bowlers.His test batting average and centuries he made during such period speaks of his calibre.I wish a great BD for the true legend
