View source for Sunil Gavaskar

{{short description|Indian cricketer (born 1949)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Sunil Gavaskar
| image               = Sunny Gavaskar Sahara.jpg
| image_size          = 200px
| caption             = Gavaskar in 2012
| office              = [[Sheriff of Mumbai]]
| predecessor         = [[I. M. Kadri]]
| successor           = Subir Kumar Choudhury
| term                = 1995–1996
| module              = {{Infobox cricketer
| embed = yes
| fullname = Sunil Manohar Gavaskar
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|07|10|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay Province]], [[Dominion of India]]
| death_date =
| nickname = Sunny, Little Master {one of two Mumbai born cricketers who were given that nickname by the people of India along with [[Tendulkar|Sachin Tendulkar]]}
| height = 5 ft 4 in<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rising to great heights|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/espncricinfo-xi-some-of-the-shortest-players-in-international-cricket-513172|date=3 May 2011|website=[[ESPN]]|quote=Sachin is a smidgeon taller than his predecessor as India's pint-sized batting colossus, Sunil Gavaskar (5ft 4in).}}</ref>
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = 
| role = [[Batting order (cricket)#Opening batsmen|Opening batsman]]
| family = {{ubl|[[Madhav Mantri]] (uncle)||Manohar Gavaskar (father)||Meenal Gavaskar (mother)|Marshneil Gavaskar (wife)|[[Rohan Gavaskar]] (son)||Kavita Vishwanath (sister)|[[Gundappa Viswanath]] (brother-in-law)}}
| international = true
| internationalspan = 1971–1987
| country = India
| testcap = 128
| testdebutagainst = West Indies
| testdebutdate = 6 March
| testdebutyear = 1971
| lasttestagainst = Pakistan
| lasttestdate = 13 March
| lasttestyear = 1987
| odicap = 4
| odidebutagainst = England
| odidebutdate = 13 July
| odidebutyear = 1974
| lastodiagainst = England
| lastodidate = 5 November
| lastodiyear = 1987
| odishirt = 
| club1 = [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|1967–1982}}
| year2 = 1980
| club2 = [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]]
| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches1 = 125
| matches2 = 108
| matches3 = 348
| matches4 = 151
| runs1 = 10,122
| runs2 = 3,092
| runs3 = 25,834
| runs4 = 4,594
| bat avg1 = 51.12
| bat avg2 = 35.13
| bat avg3 = 51.46
| bat avg4 = 36.17
| 100s/50s1 = 34/45
| 100s/50s2 = 1/27
| 100s/50s3 = 81/105
| 100s/50s4 = 5/37
| top score1 = 236[[not out|*]]
| top score2 = 103[[not out|*]]
| top score3 = 340
| top score4 = 123
| deliveries1 = 380
| deliveries2 = 20
| deliveries3 = 1,953
| deliveries4 = 108
| wickets1 = 1
| wickets2 = 1
| wickets3 = 22
| wickets4 = 2
| bowl avg1 = 206.00
| bowl avg2 = 25.00
| bowl avg3 = 56.36
| bowl avg4 = 40.50
| fivefor1 = 0
| fivefor2 = 0
| fivefor3 = 0
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling1 = 1/34
| best bowling2 = 1/10
| best bowling3 = 3/43
| best bowling4 = 1/10
| catches/stumpings1 = 108/–
| catches/stumpings2 = 22/–
| catches/stumpings3 = 293/–
| catches/stumpings4 = 37/–
| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1378/1378.html CricketArchive
| date = 5 September
| year = 2008
|medaltemplates=<!--MENTION HOST NATIONS FOR TEAM SPORTS-->
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Cricket World Cup|ICC Cricket World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1983 Cricket World Cup|1983 England and Wales]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asia Cup|ACC Asia Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1984 Asia Cup|1984 United Arab Emirates]]|}}
}}
}}

''' Sunil Manohar "Sunny" Gavaskar''' (Marathi pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[suniːl ɡaːʋəskəɾ]]]; born 10 July 1949), is a former captain of the Indian national cricket team who represented [[India national cricket team|India]] and [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]] from 1971 to 1987. He was the first batsman to pass [[List of players who have scored 10,000 or more runs in Test cricket|10,000 runs in Test cricket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/mohun-bagan-chuni-goswami-gate-kolkata-maidan-inauguration-sunil-gavaskar-east-bengal-ranji-trophy-hundred/article66741573.ece|title=I denied him a Ranji century: Gavaskar remembers football legend Chuni Goswami|date=15 April 2023|access-date=17 April 2023|website=sportstar.thehindu.com|publisher=[[Sportstar]]|first=Amitabha|last=Das Sharma}}</ref> Gavaskar is acknowledged as one of the greatest [[Batting order (cricket)#Top order|opening batsmen]] of all time.

Gavaskar was widely admired for his technique against [[fast bowling]], with a particularly high average of 65.45 against the [[West Indies national cricket team|West Indies]], who possessed a four-pronged fast bowling attack, widely regarded as the most vicious in Test history. However, most of Gavaskar's centuries against [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] were against the team when their four-pronged attack were not playing together.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-10|title=Growing up with Sunil Gavaskar: Man, Milestone and Myth|url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/growing-up-with-sunil-gavaskar-man-milestone-and-myth-470017|access-date=2021-02-23|website=Cricket Country|language=en-US}}</ref> His captaincy of the Indian team, was considered as one of the first attacking ones, with Indian team winning the [[1984 Asia Cup]], and the [[World Championship of Cricket]] in 1985. At the same time, there were multiple exchanges of captaincy between Gavaskar and [[Kapil Dev]], with one coming just six months before Kapil led India to victory at the [[1983 Cricket World Cup]]. He is also a former [[Sheriff of Mumbai]].

Gavaskar is a recipient of the Indian sports honour of the [[Arjuna Award]] and the civilian honour of the [[Padma Bhushan]].<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |archive-date=15 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was inducted into the [[ICC Cricket Hall of Fame]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/385019.html |title=ICC and FICA launch Cricket Hall of Fame|author=Cricinfo |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=2 January 2009 |access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref> In 2012, he was awarded the [[C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award]], the highest honour [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]] can bestow on a former player.<ref name="Wisden India">{{cite news |url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/bcci-names-gavaskar-ck-nayudu-award/32133 |title=BCCI names Gavaskar for CK Nayudu award |publisher=Wisden India |date=25 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-21/top-stories/35257455_1_ck-nayudu-lifetime-achievement-international-hundreds-vvs-laxman |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105054015/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-21/top-stories/35257455_1_ck-nayudu-lifetime-achievement-international-hundreds-vvs-laxman |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Gavaskar conferred with CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award |access-date=21 November 2012}}</ref> Gavaskar is also known as Sunny [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/sunil-gavaskar-celebrates-75th-birthday-a-tribute-to-the-little-master/articleshow/111621174.cms] by his fans and fellow cricket commentators.

== Domestic debut ==
Born in [[Mumbai]] in a middle class [[Marathi people|Marathi]] Family and a student of [[St. Xavier's High School, Fort|St Xavier's High School]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/st-xaviers-kicks-off-150th-anniversary-with-star-alumni/articleshow/62398340.cms |title=St Xavier's kicks off 150th anniversary with star alumni |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |work=Vinamrata Borwankar |date=7 January 2018 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/140-years-on-st-xavier-s-school-keeps-history-alive/story-cvSaPF3uzKJn9Ol8rjLC1O.html |title=140 years on, St Xavier's school keeps history alive |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=31 January 2010 |access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> young Sunil Gavaskar was named ''India's Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the year'' in 1966 while playing for his school. He scored 246*, 222 and 85 in school cricket in his final year of secondary education before striking a century against the touring London schoolboys. He made his first-class debut for [[Vazir Sultan Tobacco cricket teams|Vazir Sultan Colts XI]] against an XI from [[Dungarpur]] in 1966–67 but remained in Bombay's [[Ranji Trophy]] squad for the next two years without playing a match. An alumnus of Bombay's [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai|St. Xavier's College]], he made his debut in the 1968–69 season against [[Karnataka cricket team|Karnataka]] but made a [[Duck (cricket)|duck]] and was the subject of derisive claims that his selection was due to the presence of his uncle [[Madhav Mantri]], a former Indian Test wicket keeper on Bombay's selection committee. He responded with 114 against [[Rajasthan cricket team|Rajasthan]] in his second match and two other consecutive centuries saw him being selected in the [[Indian cricket team in the West Indies in 1970–71|1970–71 Indian team to tour the West Indies]].

== Test debut ==

=== First test match win in West Indies ===
After missing the first Test due to nail infection,<ref name="Karhadkar">{{Cite web|last=Karhadkar|first=Amol|title=Sunil Gavaskar Test debut on this day 50 years ago|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/gavaskar-test-debut-port-of-spain-west-indies-1971-bombay-indian-cricket/article33997353.ece|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Sportstar|date=6 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Gavaskar scored 65 and 67 not out in the second Test in [[Queen's Park Oval|Port-of-Spain]], [[Trinidad]], hitting the winning runs which gave India its first-ever win over the West Indies.<ref name="Karhadkar"/>

=== First Test century and first series victory over West Indies ===
He followed this with his first century, 116 and 64* in the third Test in [[Providence Stadium|Georgetown, Guyana]], and 1 and 117* in the Fourth Test in [[Kensington Oval|Bridgetown]], Barbados. He returned to Trinidad for the fifth Test and scored 124 and 220 to help India to its first ever series victory over the West Indies, and the only one until 2006. His performance in the Test made him the second player after [[Doug Walters]] to score [[List of cricketers who have scored a double century and a century in the same Test match|a century and double century in the same match]]. He remained the only Indian to achieve this feat until [[Shubman Gill]] repeated it against [[England cricket team|England]] at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]] in [[Indian cricket team in England in 2025|July 2025]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bandarupalli |first=Sampath |date=5 July 2025 |title=Gill breaks records with 430 as India rack up a rare 1000 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-india-2nd-test-stats-gill-overtakes-gavaskar-as-india-rack-up-1014-runs-1493702 |access-date=7 July 2025 |website=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> He also became the first Indian to make four centuries in one Test series, the second Indian after [[Vijay Hazare]] to score [[List of cricketers who have scored centuries in both innings of a Test match|two centuries in the same Test]], and the third after Hazare and [[Polly Umrigar]] to score centuries in three consecutive innings. He was the first Indian to aggregate more than 700 runs in a series and until date remains the only Indian to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/282849.html|title=Test matches – Batting records – Most runs in a series|publisher=ESPN|work=Cricinfo|access-date=6 Mar 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330161333/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/282849.html|archive-date=30 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> This 774 runs at 154.80 also remains the most runs scored in a debut series by any batsman.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite book |title=ESPN Legends of Cricket |first=Geoff |last=Armstrong |year=2002 |publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]] |isbn=1-86508-836-6 }}</ref> Trinidad Calypso singer Lord Relator (Willard Harris) wrote a song in Gavaskar's honour, the "[[Gavaskar Calypso]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2519/25190240.htm |title=A legend in two lands |last=Lokapally |first=Vijay |date=11–17 May 2002 |work=[[Sportstar]]|access-date=8 June 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716165912/http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2519/25190240.htm |archive-date=16 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-16/edit-page/27991654_1_greatest-cricketers-brian-lara-calypso|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007041803/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-16/edit-page/27991654_1_greatest-cricketers-brian-lara-calypso|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 October 2013|title=Leader Article: Calypso Rules |last=Biswas |first=Soutik |date=16 June 2007 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=8 June 2009}}</ref>

=== England tour ===
Gavaskar's arrival in [[Indian cricket team in England in 1971|England in 1971]] for a three-Test series generated substantial publicity in light of his debut series. He was unable to maintain his performance, making only two half-centuries. He was involved in controversy when taking a quick single from the bowling of [[John Snow (cricketer)|John Snow]]. They collided, and Gavaskar fell over. Snow was charged with deliberately barging into Gavaskar and was suspended. Gavaskar's 144 runs at the low average of 24,<ref name="testlist">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1378/t_Batting_by_Season.html Test Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Sunny Gavaskar], CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 September 2008.</ref> led some to question Gavaskar's worthiness for international cricket.<ref name="ESPN"/>

=== England tour of India ===
In 1972–73, England toured India for a five-Test series, Gavaskar's first on home soil. He was ineffective in the first three Tests, accumulating only sixty runs in five innings as India took a 2–1 lead. He scored some runs in the final two Tests which India drew to complete consecutive series wins over England. His first home series was largely disappointing, aggregating 224 runs at 24.89.<ref name="testlist"/> His English critics were placated when India returned in 1974 and Gavaskar scored 101 and 58 in the first Test at [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]]. He managed 227 runs at 37.83 as India were whitewashed 3–0.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

=== West Indies tour ===
Gavaskar's [[West Indian cricket team in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1974–75|1974–75 series]] against the West Indies was interrupted, playing in only the First and fifth and final Test of the series against the West Indies. He scored 108 runs at 27, with an 86 bowled by [[Lance Gibbs]] at Bombay's Wankhede Stadium hosting the first test on this ground, the closest the Indian public got to see a century.<ref name="testlist"/> The Test was the start of a world record streak of 106 Test appearances.<ref name="ESPN"/>

The 1975–76 season saw three and four Test tours [[Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 1975–76|of New Zealand]] and [[Indian cricket team in the West Indies in 1975–76|the West Indies]], respectively. Gavaskar led India in a Test for the first time in January 1976 against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] during the First Test in [[Auckland]] when regular captain [[Bishen Bedi|Bishen Singh Bedi]] was suffering from a leg injury.<ref name="ESPN"/> Standing in despite having scored only 703 runs at 28.12 since his debut series, Gavaskar rewarded the selectors with 116 and 35*. As a result, India secured an eight-wicket victory. He ended the series with 266 runs at 66.33.<ref name="testlist"/> On the West Indian leg of the tour, Gavaskar scored consecutive centuries of 156 and 102 in the Second and Third Tests, both in [[Port of Spain]], [[Trinidad]]. These were his third and fourth centuries at the grounds. In the Third Test, his 102 helped India post 4/406 to set a world record for the highest winning fourth innings score. The Indians' mastery of the Caribbean spinners on a turning track reportedly led West Indian captain [[Clive Lloyd]] to vow that he would rely on pace alone in future Tests. Gavaskar totalled 390 runs at 55.71 for the series.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

=== First home test century ===
Gavaskar was not to score a century on home soil until November 1976.<ref name="ESPN"/> In an eight-Test season, three and five against [[New Zealand cricket team in India in 1976–77|New Zealand]] and [[English cricket team in India and Sri Lanka in 1976–77|England]], respectively, Gavaskar scored centuries in the first and last Tests of the season. The first was 119 in front of his home crowd at the [[Wankhede Stadium]], helping India to a victory. Gavaskar scored another half-century in the Second Test to end the series with 259 at 43.16. In the First Test against England at [[Delhi]], he was mobbed upon becoming the first Indian to reach 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year.<ref name="ESPN"/> A steady series saw him finish with 394 runs at 39.4 with a century coming in the Fifth Test and two half-centuries.<ref name="testlist"/>

=== Tour of Australia ===
In [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 1977–78|1977–78 he toured Australia]], scoring three consecutive Test centuries (113, 127, 118) in the second innings of the first three Tests at [[Brisbane]], [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] and Melbourne, respectively. India won the third but lost the earlier two. He finished the Five Test series with 450 runs at 50, failing twice as India lost the final Test and the series 3–2.<ref name="testlist"/>

=== India Tour of Pakistan ===
[[Indian cricket team in Pakistan in 1978–79|1978–79 saw India tour Pakistan]] for the first series between the arch-rivals for 17 years. For the first time, Gavaskar faced Pakistani pace spearhead [[Imran Khan]], who described him as "The most compact batsman I've bowled to." Gavaskar scored 89 in the First Test and 97 in the Second, which India drew and lost, respectively. Gavaskar saved his best for the Third Test in [[Karachi]], scoring 111 and 137 in the Third, but was unable to prevent a defeat and series loss.<ref name="ESPN"/> His twin centuries made him the first Indian to score [[List of cricketers who have scored centuries in both innings of a Test match|two centuries in one Test]] on two occasions, and saw him pass [[Polly Umrigar|Umrigar]] as India's leading Test run-scorer. Gavaskar finished the series with 447 runs at 89.40.<ref name="testlist"/>

== Captaincy ==
[[File: Sunil Gavaskar Graph.png|left|thumb|600px|Sunil Gavaskar's career performance graph.]]Gavaskar was captain of the Indian team on several occasions in the late 1970s and early 1980s, although his record is less than impressive. Often equipped with unpenetrative bowling attacks he tended to use conservative tactics which resulted in a large number of draws. During his tenure, [[Kapil Dev]] emerged as a leading pace bowler for the country. He captained India to nine victories and eight losses, but most of the games were [[Result (cricket)|drawn]], 30.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunil Gavaskar Biography, Achievements, Career Info, Records & Stats – Sportskeeda|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/sunil-gavaskar|access-date=2021-09-05|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

=== First test series as a captain ===
His first series in charge was a West Indian visit to India for a [[West Indies cricket team in India in 1983-84|six Test series]]. Gavaskar's several large centuries contrasted with several failures. His 205 in the First Test made him the first Indian to score a double century in India against the West Indies.<ref name="ESPN"/> He added a further 73 in the second innings of a high scoring draw. After failing to score in the Second Test, he scored 107 and 182 not out in the Third Test at [[Calcutta]], another high scoring draw. This made him the first player in Test history to achieve centuries in both innings of a Test three times. He managed only 4 and 1 in the Fourth Test in [[Chennai|Madras]] as India forced the only win of the series. He posted a fourth century for the series, scoring 120 in the Fifth Test at Delhi, becoming the first Indian to pass 4000 Test runs. He aggregated 732 runs at 91.50 for the series, securing India a 1–0 win in his first series as captain.<ref name="testlist"/>

=== Stripped of the captaincy ===
Despite this, he was stripped of the captaincy when India toured England in 1979 for a four Test tour. The official reason given was that [[Srinivas Venkataraghavan]] was preferred due to his superior experience on English soil, but most observers believed that Gavaskar was punished because he was believed to be considering defecting to [[World Series Cricket]]. He started consistently, scoring four half-centuries in five innings of the first three Tests.<ref name="testlist"/> It was in the Fourth Test at [[The Oval]] that he produced his finest innings on English soil. India was 1–0 down needed to reach a world record target of 438 to square the series. They reached 76/0 at stumps on the fourth day. Led by Gavaskar, India made steady progress to be 328/1 with 20 overs remaining on the final day with a record-breaking victory still possible. An [[Ian Botham]] led fightback saw Gavaskar removed, with India still needing 49 runs from 46 balls. With three balls left in the match, all four results were possible. India ended nine runs short with two wickets in hand when stumps were drawn. According to [[Sanjay Manjrekar]], it was "Vintage Gavaskar, playing swing bowling to perfection, taking his time initially and then opening up. Nothing in the air, everything copybook." He ended the series with 542 runs at 77.42 and was named as one of the [[Wisden Cricketers of the Year]].<ref name="ESPN"/>

=== Restored to captaincy ===
Gavaskar was restored to the captaincy for the gruelling 1979–80 season, with six Test home series against both Australia and Pakistan. The first two Tests against Australia were high scoring draws where only 45 wickets fell, with India taking a first-innings lead in both after making scores over 400. India broke through for a 153-run win in the Third Test at [[Kanpur]], where Gavaskar scored 76. He made 115 in the Fourth Test in [[Delhi]], where India were unable to convert a 212-run first innings lead, resulting in a draw. After another stalemate in the Fifth Test, Gavaskar scored 123 in the Sixth Test, where Australia collapsed by an innings after India posted their fourth first innings in excess of 400 for the series. The series against Pakistan was similarly high scoring, with four draws, three of which did not reach the fourth innings. India won the Third and Fifth Tests in Bombay and Madras. At Madras, he made 166 in the first innings and was unbeaten on 29 when India brought up the winning runs. Having secured the series 2–0, Gavaskar was removed from the captaincy for the drawn Sixth Test. This occurred because Gavaskar had refused to tour the West Indies for another series immediately afterwards, asking for a rest. As a result, [[Gundappa Viswanath]] was appointed so that he could prepare his leadership skills for the tour. In the end the tour did not go ahead as the West Indian board were not interested in a team without Gavaskar. The season ended with a one-off Test against England in Bombay, which India lost. In the 13 Tests that season, he made 1027 runs at 51.35 with three centuries and four half-centuries. This ended a 14-month span in which Gavaskar played in 22 Tests and the 1979 Cricket World Cup. In that time, he scored 2301 Test runs including eight centuries.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

=== Australian Tour ===
The 1980–81<ref>{{Cite web|title=AUSTRALIA v INDIA 1980–81|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152230.html|access-date=2021-04-02|website=Cricinfo}}</ref> season saw Gavaskar returned as captain for the Australasian tour, but it was to be the start of an unhappy reign for Gavaskar and India. He managed only 118 runs at 19.66 in the three Tests against Australia, but his impact in Australia was for a controversial incident. At the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], when Gavaskar was given out by the Australian umpire [[Rex Whitehead]], he ordered his fellow opener [[Chetan Chauhan]] off the field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/257492.html |title=Pakistan's protest not the first &#124; ESPN Cricinfo |publisher=Content-usa.cricinfo.com |access-date=21 December 2010}}</ref> Instead of abandoning the match, the Indian manager, SK Durani persuaded Chauhan to return to the match which India went on to win by 59 runs as Australia collapsed to 83 in their second innings.<ref name="ESPN"/> India drew the series 1–1 but the following three-Test series in New Zealand was to signal the start of a barren run of 19 Tests under Gavaskar of which India were to win only one and lose five. India lost to New Zealand 1–0, with Gavaskar managing 126 runs at 25.2. He finished the Oceania tour with 244 runs at 22.18, with only two half-centuries, making little impact.<ref name="testlist"/>

=== England in India ===
The 1981–82 Indian season saw a hard-fought 1–0 series win over England in six Tests. India took the First Test, before five consecutive draws resulted, four of which did not even reach the fourth innings. Gavaskar made 172 in the Second Test at [[Bangalore]] and reached a half-century on three further occasions to compile 500 runs at 62.5. India reciprocated England's visit in 1982 for a three-Test series, which was lost 1–0. Gavaskar made 74 runs at 24.66 but was unable to bat in the Third Test.<ref name="testlist"/>

=== Sri Lanka Tour ===
The 1982–83 subcontinental season started well for Gavaskar on an individual note, as he made 155 in a one-off Test against [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] in Madras. It was the first Test between the two nations, with Sri Lankan having only recently been awarded Test status. Despite this, India were unable to finish off their novice opponents, the draw heralding a start of a winless summer. India played in twelve Tests, losing five and drawing seven. The first series was a six Test tour to Pakistan. India started well enough, drawing the First Test in [[Lahore]], with Gavaskar scoring 83. Pakistan then defeated India in three consecutive matches. In the Third Test in [[Faisalabad]], Gavaskar managed an unbeaten 127 in the second innings to force Pakistan into a run chase, but the other two losses were substantial, both by an innings. Despite holding on for draws in the last two Tests, Gavaskar was replaced by Kapil Dev as captain after the 3–0 loss. Despite his team's difficulties, Gavaskar remained productive with 434 runs at 47.18 with a century and three half centuries. Gavaskar went on to the West Indies for a five Test tour purely as a batsman, but could not reproduce the form that he had shown in the Caribbean in 1971 and 1976. He managed only 240 runs at 30, as India were crushed 2–0 by the world champions. Apart from an unbeaten 147 in the drawn Third Test in [[Georgetown, Guyana]], his next best effort was 32.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

The 1983–84 season started with a home series against Pakistan, with all three matches being drawn. Gavaskar scored an unbeaten 103 in the First Test in [[Bangalore]], and made two further half centuries to total 264 runs at 66.

=== Overtaking Bradman's test record ===
The Pakistan series was followed by a [[West Indies cricket team in India in 1983-84|six Test series]] against the touring West Indies at the height of their powers. The First Test was held in [[Kanpur]] and India were crushed by an innings. Gavaskar had his bat knocked out of his hand by a hostile delivery from [[Malcolm Marshall]] before being dismissed. In the Second Test in [[Delhi]], Gavaskar delivered his riposte to Marshall, hooking him for a consecutive four and six to start his innings. Gavaskar, unwilling to be dictated to by the Caribbean pacemen, hooked the short-pitched barrage relentlessly, reaching his half century in 37 balls. He then went on to score 121, his 29th Test century in 94 balls in his 95th test match, equalling [[Don Bradman]]'s world record. He also passed 8,000 Test runs in the innings, and was personally honoured by [[Indira Gandhi]], the [[Prime Minister of India]] at the ground. The match was drawn. Gavaskar's 90 in the Third Test at [[Ahmedabad]] saw him pass [[Geoff Boycott]]'s Test world record of 8,114 career runs, but was insufficient to prevent another defeat. During the Fifth Test in the series, India were defeated by an innings at [[Calcutta]] to concede a 3–0 series lead. India had won only one of their 32 most recent Tests and none of their last 28. The crowd singled out Gavaskar, who had made a golden duck and 20. Angry spectators pelted objects onto the playing arena and clashed with police, before stoning the team bus. In the Sixth Test in Madras, he compiled his 30th Test century in his 99th test match, with an unbeaten 236 which was the highest Test score by an Indian. It was his 30th Test century and third double century against the West Indies, propelling him to overtake [[Donald Bradman]]'s 29 test centuries record. He scored a total of 505 runs at an average of 50.50 for the series.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

=== Failure to win for successive Tests ===
With India having failed to win for 29 successive Tests, Kapil was sacked as captain and Gavaskar resumed leadership at the start of the 1984–85 season. The two Test tour of Pakistan resulted in two further draws, with Gavaskar compiling 120 runs at 40. The First Test against England saw India break through for its first Test victory in 32 matches. It proved to be a false dawn, with England squaring the series 1–1 in Delhi before another controversial Third Test at [[Eden Gardens]] in [[Calcutta]]. The hostile crowd watched as India batted for over two days to reach 7/437 after 203 overs. Angry with the slow pace of India's innings, the crowd chanted "Gavaskar down! Gavaskar out!" blaming him for India' performance. The local police chief reportedly asked Gavaskar to declare to placate the angry crowd. When Gavaskar led his team onto the field, he was pelted with fruit.

Gavaskar vowed never to play at Eden Gardens again, and duly withdrew from the team for India's next fixture at the Bengali capital two years later, ending his record of 106 consecutive Tests. The match was drawn, but India conceded the series after losing the Fourth. The series ended 1–2, and with a poor display of 140 runs at 17.5, Gavaskar resigned, although he had already announced his intention to relinquish the leadership before the series. The change of captain improved the form of neither Gavaskar nor India as they toured [[Sri Lanka]] for a three-Test series. India were embarrassed 1–0 by the Test minnows at the time, with Gavaskar managing only 186 runs at 37.2.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

== International farewell ==
In 1985–86, India toured Australia. All three Tests were drawn. Gavaskar scored an unbeaten 166 in the First Test in Adelaide and 172 in the Third Test in Sydney, ending the series with 352 runs at 117.33. A three-Test tour of England saw him score only 185 runs at 30.83, which India won 2–0 despite his lack of production. In 1986–87, Gavaskar's final season in Test cricket, India faced a long season of eleven home Tests. Against an Australian team, Gavaskar made 90 in the second innings of the First Test in Madras (now Chennai), giving India a chance to reach the target of 348, which ended in a tie. He scored 103 in the Third Test to end the series with 205 runs at 51.66. The First Test against Sri Lanka in Kanpur saw Gavaskar's 34th and final Test century of 176. He scored 74 and 5 in the next two Tests as India won the three-match series 2–0. The five-Test series against arch enemies Pakistan was to be his last. Gavaskar scored 91 in the drawn First Test in Madras before withdrawing from the Second Test in Calcutta as he had promised. In the Fourth Test in Ahmedabad, Gavaskar's 63 made him the first batsman to pass 10,000 runs. With the teams locked 0–0 leading into the final Test in [[Bangalore]], there was to be no fairytale. Gavaskar was dismissed for 96 in the second innings as India were bowled out to give Pakistan a 1–0 series win.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

Gavaskar rounded out his international career with the [[1987 Cricket World Cup]]. He scored 300 runs at an average of 50 at the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reliance World Cup, 1987/88 Cricket Team Records & Stats {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=617&type=tournament|access-date=2021-07-04|website=Cricinfo}}</ref> [[1987 Cricket World Cup Group A#New Zealand vs India|Against New Zealand]] in the league phase he recorded his highest ODI score of 103*. The good form however did not continue into the [[1987 Cricket World Cup knockout stage#England vs India|semifinals]] where [[Phil Defreitas]] bowled him for 4 runs<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of England vs India 2nd SF 1987/88 – Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/reliance-world-cup-1987-88-60876/india-vs-england-2nd-sf-65116/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-07-04|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref> in his last international innings.

== Style ==
Gavaskar was also a fine slip fielder and his safe catching in the slips helped him become the first Indian (excluding [[wicket-keeper]]s) to take over a hundred catches in Test matches. In one [[One Day International|ODI]] against [[Pakistan]] in [[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]] in 1985, he took four catches and helped India defend a small total of 125. Early in his Test career, when India rarely used pace bowlers, Gavaskar also opened the bowling for a short spell on occasions if only one pace bowler was playing, before a three-pronged spin attack took over. The only wicket claimed by him is that of Pakistani [[Zaheer Abbas]] in 1978–79.

While Gavaskar could not be described as an attacking batsman, he had the ability of keeping the scoreboard ticking with unique shots such as the "late flick". His focus of technical correctness over flair meant that his style of play was usually less suited to the shorter form of the game, at which he had less success. His infamous 36 not out in the [[1975 Cricket World Cup|1975 World Cup]], carrying his bat through the full 60 overs against England, led Indian supporters to storm the field and confront him for scoring so slowly when India needed nearly a run a ball to win; at the end of the game India had lost only three wickets but scored 200 runs less than [[England]]. Gavaskar almost went through his career without scoring a one-day century. He managed his first (and only) ODI century in the [[1987 Cricket World Cup|1987 World Cup]], when he hit 103 not out in 88 balls against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] in his penultimate ODI innings at [[Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground]], [[Nagpur]].

== Records and achievements ==
* Gavaskar was the first Test cricket player to make over 10,000 runs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sunil Gavaskar: Stats, Record, and Achievements |url=https://www.scorewaves.com/news-details/sunil-gavaskar-stats-records-achievements |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=ScoreWaves |language=en}}</ref><ref name="jagranjosh.com">{{Cite web|date=2021-07-09|title=Sunil Gavaskar Records List: International records as Captain, Batsman, and Bowler|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/sunil-gavaskar-records-list-1625835197-1|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Jagranjosh.com}}</ref>
* He held the record for the highest number of test centuries (34) before [[Sachin Tendulkar]] went past him in 2005.<ref name="jagranjosh.com"/>
* As opening batsman with a batting average above fifty, he is still holding those two test cricket records (runs and centuries). howstat.com (Retrieved October 5, 2024).
* As a batsman, he is the unique yearly aggregate record holder of test runs and centuries, with a half-century to century conversion rate above forty three per cent (since 1983). howstat.com (Retrieved 10/5/2024).
* He has scored the highest runs (774) in a series as a debutant.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="jagranjosh.com"/>
* He has scored the most runs by any player in a series (774) against [[West Indies]].<ref name=":0" />
* He has the maximum no. of runs & centuries scored by a player against West Indies—2,749 runs & 13 centuries.<ref name="jagranjosh.com"/>
* He is the only cricketer to score 4 consecutive centuries at 2 venues — [[Port of Spain]] & [[Wankhede stadium|Wankhede Stadium]].<ref name="jagranjosh.com"/>
* He is the only cricketer with Test century partnerships with 18 different players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swapnilagaskar.tripod.com/sunny.htm |title=Sunil Gavaskar : Facts, Achievements, Statistics and Records, Photo Gallery |publisher=Swapnilagaskar.tripod.com |date=10 July 1949}}</ref>
* He is a joint holder of the record for scoring centuries in both innings of a Test Match on three occasions along with Australia's [[Ricky Ponting]] and [[David Warner (cricketer)|David Warner]].<ref name="jagranjosh.com"/>
* He also became the first Indian fielder (excluding wicket-keepers) to get over a hundred catches in Test cricket.<ref name="jagranjosh.com"/>
* He captained the national team on and off over a period between 1978 and 1985, which included a great 2–0 win over Pakistan in 1979–80.
* He is the first Indian cricketer to carry his bat in test cricket, with a score of 127 not out in the Faisalabad Test in the year 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunil Gavaskar Records, Test match, ODI, T20, IPL international batting bowling fielding records|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/sunil-gavaskar-28794/tests-odi-t20-records|access-date=2021-09-05|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref>
* He was named one of the Wisden cricketers of the year in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricket365.com/player-stats/6031/Sunil-Gavaskar |title=Sunil Gavaskar &#124; Stats & Records &#124; Cricket News |date=6 August 2018 |publisher=Cricket365 }}</ref>

== Important statistics ==
* Test debut: West Indies v India at Port of Spain, 6–10 March 1971<ref name=":0" /><ref name="jagranjosh.com"/><ref name="Sports">{{Cite web|last=Sports|first=Times of|title=Sunil Gavaskar Records List, Achievements and Honours Received|date=10 July 2021 |url=https://www.timesofsports.com/cricket/news/sunil-gavaskar-records/|access-date=2021-09-05|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Last Test: India v Pakistan at Bangalore, 13–17 March 1987<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/sunil-gavaskar-records-list-1625835197-1 | title=Sunil Gavaskar Records List: International records as Captain, Batsman, and Bowler | date=9 July 2021 }}</ref><ref name="Sports"/>
* ODI debut: England v India at Leeds, 13 July 1974<ref name=":0" /><ref name="jagranjosh.com"/><ref name="Sports"/>
* Last ODI: India v England at Bombay, 5 November 1987<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Sports"/>
* First-class span: 1966–1987<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunil Gavaskar Debut and last played matches in Tests, ODIs, T20Is and other formats|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/sunil-gavaskar-28794/matches|access-date=2021-09-05|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref>
* First Class Debut: Vazir Sultan Colt's XI v Dungarpur XI at Hyderabad, 1966–67
* Last First Class Match: Rest of the World v M.C.C. at Lord's, 1987
* Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1980<ref name="Sports"/>
* List A span: 1973–1988<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/28794.html#statistics |title=Sunil Gavaskar &#124; Cricket Players and Officials |publisher=ESPNcricinfo }}</ref>
* Gavaskar's 100s in first class cricket. 
*# Tests: 34, 
*# Ranji Trophy: 20, 
*# Irani Cup: 3, 
*# Duleep Trophy: 6, 
*# Rest of the World against England (his last first class game): 1, 
*# County cricket for Somerset: 2, 
*# Other games: 15. 
Sachin Tendulkar equalled Sunil Gavaskar's record of first class 100s on 8 February 2013<ref>{{cite web|agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-08/top-stories/36992356_1_sachin-tendulkar-test-hundreds-irani-cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211507/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-08/top-stories/36992356_1_sachin-tendulkar-test-hundreds-irani-cup |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Sachin Tendulkar equals Sunil Gavaskar's record of first class 100s |date=8 February 2013}}</ref>
* Gavaskar was the first cricketer to play 100 consecutive test matches.

== After playing career ==
[[File:Dnyaneshwar-agashe-sunil-gavaskar.png|thumb|right|Gavaskar with former [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]] [[vice-president]] [[Dnyaneshwar Agashe]].]]
After retirement, he has been a popular commentator both on TV and in print. In 1987, he participated in [[Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|Prince Edward of the United Kingdom]]'s charity television special ''[[The Grand Knockout Tournament]]''. In 2003, he became the first Indian to deliver the [[MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture]].<ref name="rediff.com">{{Cite web|title=The Colin Cowdrey lecture by Sunil Gavaskar|url=https://www.rediff.com/cricket/2003/jul/31gav.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref> He also served as an advisor to the [[India national cricket team]] during the home series against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-06|title='I never even thought about it': Sunil Gavaskar reveals why he wasn't a good fit to become India head coach|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/i-never-even-thought-about-it-sunil-gavaskar-reveals-why-he-wasn-t-a-good-fit-to-become-india-head-coach-101622965650107.html|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> He was the Chairman of the [[International Cricket Council|ICC]] [[cricket committee]] until the time he was forced to choose between commenting and being on the committee.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-05-08|title=Gavaskar quits as ICC cricket panel chief|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-33472420080508|access-date=2021-09-05}}</ref> He left the committee to continue his career as a broadcaster.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-05-08|title=Cricket: Sunil Gavaskar forced to step down as chairman of ICC cricket committee|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/may/08/cricket2|access-date=2021-09-05|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

The inaugural [[Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi Memorial Lecture]] was given by Gavaskar on 20 February 2013 at [[Taj Coromandel]], [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tiger brought fun to the game|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/tiger-brought-fun-to-the-game/article4437170.ece|work=The Hindu|date=21 February 2013|access-date=25 February 2013}}</ref>

On 28 March 2014 the [[Supreme Court of India]] appointed Gavaskar as the interim [[BCCI President|President]] of the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]], primarily to oversee the [[Indian Premier League 2014|seventh Season]] of the [[Indian Premier League]]. At the same time the Court directed him to give up his job as a commentator.<ref>{{cite web|title=Supreme Court splits BCCI, appoints Sunil Gavaskar as President|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/03/supreme-court-splits-bcci-appoints-sunil-gavaskar-as-president/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=28 March 2014}}</ref>

Gavaskar joined Triton Solar as its Brand Ambassador.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://smestreet.in/global/cricket-legend-sunil-gavaskar-and-bollywood-star-suniel-shetty-joined-triton-solar/|title=Cricket Legend Sunil Gavaskar and Bollywood Star Suniel Shetty Joined Triton Solar|work=SMEStreet |date=21 September 2019}}</ref>

== Entertainment career ==
Gavaskar also tried his hand at acting on the silver screen. He played the lead role in the Marathi movie "Savli Premachi".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-11|title=When Sunil Gavaskar acted with Naseeruddin Shah in a 1988 film|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/when-sunil-gavaskar-acted-with-naseeruddin-shah-7397939/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The movie did not receive much appreciation though. {{Citation needed|date=April 2024}} needed After many years he appeared in a guest role in (1988) Hindi movie "[[Maalamaal]]".<ref name="IMDB entry">[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1076614/ Sunil Gavaskar's IMDb entry]  Retrieved 16 November 2009.</ref>  with [[Naseeruddin Shah]] and [[Satish Shah]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunil Gavaskar – The actor {{!}} Latest News & Updates at DNAIndia.com|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/cricket/photo-gallery-happy-birthday-sunil-gavaskar-from-almost-switched-at-birth-to-becoming-little-master-facts-you-didn-t-know-2899902/sunil-gavaskar-the-actor-2899913|access-date=2021-09-05|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref> He has sung a Marathi song "Ya Duniyemadhye Thambayaala Vel Konala" which was written by noted Marathi lyricist {{ill|Shantaram Nandgaonkar|mr|शांताराम नांदगावकर|vertical-align=sup}}.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-11|title=When Sunil Gavaskar acted with Naseeruddin Shah in a 1988 film|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/when-sunil-gavaskar-acted-with-naseeruddin-shah-7397939/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The song depicted the similarities between a cricket match and real life.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-11|title=When Sunil Gavaskar acted with Naseeruddin Shah in a 1988 film|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/when-sunil-gavaskar-acted-with-naseeruddin-shah-7397939/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

== Honours ==
* In [[List of Padma Bhushan award recipients (1980–1989)|1980]], Gavaskar received the [[Padma Bhushan]] award for his successful international cricket career, from President [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Happy Birthday, Sunny! 10 facts about Sunil Gavaskar you might not know|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/happy-birthday-sunny-ten-facts-you-might-now-know-about-sunil-gavaskar-2904612/|website=indianexpress.com|date=10 July 2016 |publisher=The Indian Express [P] Ltd.|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
* On 22 December 1994, Gavaskar was sworn in as [[Sheriff of Mumbai|Sheriff of Bombay]]—an honorary post, for a year, at [[Raj Bhavan (Mumbai)|Raj Bhavan]] in Mumbai in the presence of [[Governor of Maharashtra|Governor]] [[P. C. Alexander]] and [[Chief minister of Maharashtra|Chief minister]] [[Sharad Pawar]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-03-19|title=High Court dismisses PIL against former sheriff|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/high-court-dismisses-pil-against-former-sheriff/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
* In 1996, the [[Border–Gavaskar Trophy]] for the bilateral test series between India and Australia was instituted in honour of him and [[Allan Border]]. Both these players scored more than 10,000 runs in their respective Test careers and captained their teams.<ref>{{cite web|title=India vs Australia 2016–17: All you need to know about history of Border–Gavaskar Trophy|url=http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/india-vs-australia-2016-17-all-you-need-to-know-about-history-of-border-gavaskar-trophy-579353|website=cricketcountry.com|date=22 February 2017 |publisher=© 2018 India.com|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
* "Gavaskar Stadium" in his home district of [[Vengurla]] has been named after him.<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden oldie brothers-in-law in the Gavaskar stable|url=https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sportvicarious/golden-oldie-brother-in-laws/|website=indiatimes.com|date=5 September 2010 |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
*In 2003, he became the first Indian cricketer to deliver the [[MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture|MCC Spirit Of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture]]. He was the 3rd lecturer in the history of the [[Cowdrey Lecture|Cowdrey lecture]].<ref name="rediff.com"/>
* On 21 November 2012, Gavaskar was conferred with BCCI's prestigious [[C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award|Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award]] at the BCCI Annual Awards Function 2011–12. The Lifetime Achievement Award given to Gavaskar carried a citation, trophy and a cheque for {{INRConvert|25|l|year=2012}} and he received this award from then [[BCCI president]] [[N. Srinivasan]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-11-22|title=Lifetime achievement award for Sunil Gavaskar|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/lifetime-achievement-award-for-sunil-gavaskar/article4120450.ece|access-date=2021-09-05|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* On 15 October 2017, Gavaskar inaugurated a cricket field in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] in the state of [[Kentucky]] in United States, thus making it the first international sporting facility named after an Indian sportsperson. The "Sunil M. Gavaskar Cricket Field", serves as the home ground for the Louisville Cricket Club, which is part of the 42-team MidWest Cricket League. Gavaskar was presented the keys of the ground by [[Mayor of Louisville|Louisville Mayor]] Greg Fischer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cricket ground in USA named after Sunil Gavaskar|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/cricket-ground-in-usa-named-after-sunil-gavaskar/articleshow/61247831.cms|access-date=15 February 2018|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cricket ground in Kentucky, US named after Sunil Gavaskar|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/cricket-ground-in-kentucky-us-named-after-sunil-gavaskar/story-reN9U91l6ukLWNCrzY7tPM.html|access-date=15 February 2018|publisher=HT Media Limited}}</ref>

== Written works ==
Sunil Gavaskar has written several books, including autobiographies and commentaries on the history of cricket.
<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 21, 1977|first=Saradindu|last=Sanyal|title=Book review of 'Sunny Days: An Autobiography' by Sunil Gavaskar|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/books/story/19770115-book-review-sunny-days-an-autobiography-by-sunil-gavaskar-823526-2014-07-21|access-date=2021-09-05|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>
.<ref name="indianexpress.com">{{Cite web|date=2020-07-10|title=Sunil Gavaskar birthday special: Sunny Days and not just in cricket!|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/sunil-gavaskar-birthday-sunny-days-and-not-just-in-cricket-6498972/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> In 1999, he released ''The Sunil Gavaskar Omnibus'', which collects ''Sunny Days'', ''Idols'', and ''One Day Wonders'', three of his autobiographical works.<ref>{{Cite web|title=द सुनील गावस्कर ओमनिबसः सनी डेज, आइडल्स, वन डे वंडर्स|url=https://www.aajtak.in/literature/review/story/book-review-of-the-sunil-gavaskar-omnibus-sunny-days-idols-one-day-wonders-290377-2015-02-26|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Aaj Tak|date=26 February 2015 |language=hi}}</ref> He has also been a columnist for several newspapers.

{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Gavaskar | first1 = Sunil | title = ''Sunny Days: An Autobiography'' | publisher = [[Rupa Publications]]  | location = Mumbai | year = 1976 | isbn = 9788129118011}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Gavaskar | first1 = Sunil | title = ''Idols'' | publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]]  | location = London | year = 1983 | isbn = 9780047960918}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Gavaskar | first1 = Sunil | title = ''Runs 'n Ruins'' | publisher = [[Rupa Publications]]  | location = Mumbai | year = 1984 | asin = B0DLT5PM3N}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Gavaskar | first1 = Sunil | title = ''One Day Wonders'' | publisher = [[Rupa Publications]]  | location = Mumbai | year = 1986 | isbn = 9788171674015}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Gavaskar | first1 = Sunil | title = ''The Sunil Gavaskar Omnibus'' | publisher = [[Rupa Publications]]  | location = Mumbai | year = 1999 | isbn = 9788171674015}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Gavaskar | first1 = Sunil | title = ''Straight Drive'' | publisher = [[Rupa Publications]]  | location = Mumbai | year = 2009 | isbn = 9788129114976}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Gavaskar | first1 = Sunil | title = ''Khel aur Khiladi'' | publisher = [[Prabhat Prakashan]]  | location = Mumbai | year = 2010 | isbn = 9788173158155 | language=Hindi}}
{{refend}}

== Controversies ==
On 25 March 2008, [[Malcolm Speed]], ICC chief executive, told Gavaskar "very clearly", during a meeting between the two at [[Dubai]], that he would have to quit his post at the ICC if he failed to give up his job of commentator and newspaper columnist,<ref name="content-ind.cricinfo.com">[http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/story/344084.html Gavaskar to decide on future with ICC], 25 March 2008, ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 September 2008.</ref> in which capacity he has frequently criticised his employers and levelled serious accusations of racism. He sparked a controversy in early 2008 for his comments on the contentious [[Second Test, 2007–08 Border–Gavaskar Trophy|Sydney Test match]]: "Millions of Indians want to know if it (match referee [[Mike Procter]]'s verdict against [[Harbhajan Singh]]) was a 'white man' taking the 'white man's' word against that of the 'brown man'. Quite simply, if there was no audio evidence, nor did the officials hear anything, then the charge did not stand."<ref>Quoted in Brown 2008.</ref> Despite the fact that Gavaskar's comment referenced Mike Procter and not the ICC, Australian writer [[Gideon Haigh]] said that, if Gavaskar genuinely believed this, "then he should almost certainly resign, for if the ICC is a bastion of 'white man's justice', Gavaskar bears some of the blame for having failed to change it.

== Personal life ==
Born in a [[Marathi people|Marathi]]<ref>{{Cite book|title = Sunny Days : Sunil Gavaskar's Own Story}}</ref> speaking Brahmin family to Meenal (née Mantri) & Manohar Gavaskar, Gavaskar is married to Marshneill Gavaskar (née Mehrotra), daughter of a leather industrialist from [[Kanpur]]. Their son, [[Rohan Gavaskar|Rohan]], born in Kanpur, was also a cricketer who played 11 [[One Day International]]s for India, but could not cement his spot in the team. Rohan was given the name "Rohan Jaivishwa" by his father as a tribute to his 3 favourite cricketers—[[Rohan Kanhai|''Rohan'' Kanhai]]; [[M. L. Jaisimha|M. L. ''Jai''simha]]; and Rohan's uncle, [[Gundappa Vishwanath|Gundappa ''Vishwa''nath]]<ref>
[http://cricket.expressindia.com/fulleistory.php?content_id=58106 V.V.S. Laxman bats for new cause] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930190851/http://cricket.expressindia.com/fulleistory.php?content_id=58106 |date=30 September 2007 }}, 10 November 2005. Press Trust on India. Retrieved on 5 September 2008.</ref>—although his name is usually recorded as Rohan Sunil Gavaskar.

As per his autobiography, "Sunny Days", in his own version, Sunil Gavaskar stated that he was exchanged with a fisherman's baby at birth. It was his uncle who spotted that the child was not Sunil as he had a birthmark near his ear. "Perhaps, I would have grown up to be an obscure fisherman, toiling somewhere along the west coast," Gavaskar wrote.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/sports/cricket-did-you-know-sunil-gavaskar-got-swapped-at-birth-with-a-fisherman-s-son-451952|title=Did you know? Sunil Gavaskar got swapped at birth with a fisherman's son|work=indiatvnews.com|date=10 July 2018}}</ref>

His maternal uncle was retired Indian cricketer Madhav Mantri.<ref>{{cite web|title=He's 92 and still going strong. Meet Madhav Mantri, India's oldest Test cricketer|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/madhav-mantri-indias-oldest-test-cricketer-209552-2013-09-02|website=India Today|date=2 September 2013 |publisher=Living Media India Limited|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref> His sister Kavita Viswanath is married to cricketer [[Gundappa Viswanath]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Six international cricketers whose sisters married other international cricketers|url=http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/raksha-bandhan-memories-sisters-of-international-cricketers-who-married-cricketers-169435|website=Cricket Country|date=10 August 2014 |publisher=India.com|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref> His other sister—Nutan Gavaskar was the honorary general secretary of [[Women's Cricket Association of India]] (WCAI).<ref>{{cite news|title=BCCI ignores women's cricket: Nutan Gavaskar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/BCCI-ignores-women%E2%80%99s-cricket-Nutan-Gavaskar/article11077900.ece|work=The Hindu|date=20 October 2014 |access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref>

According to a recollection by his son Rohan, Gavaskar saved a [[Muslims|Muslim]] family from a violent mob during the 1993 [[Bombay riots]]. “We were standing on our terrace right after the bomb blasts, a few days later, when we saw a hate mob, and they had cornered a family. We knew they did not have any good intentions towards the family and dad saw that, ran down and confronted the hate mob. He told the mob, ‘whatever you are going to do that family, you are going to do to me first’, and then better sense prevailed and the family was allowed to go its way."<ref>{{cite news| author       =<!--not stated-->| title        = How Sunil Gavaskar's compact defence saved a family from 1993 Mumbai riots mob
| url          = https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/how-sunil-gavaskar-s-compact-defence-saved-a-family-from-1993-mumbai-riots-mob/story-lH1t4BmlNt4TGLzfEwLsDL.html| work         = The Hindustan Times | location     = New Delhi| date         = 13 December 2016| access-date  = 22 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| date=April 12, 2017| title=My visits to India made me realise how easy it is to be friends| url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1326308|website=Dawn|access-date=September 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Sunil Manohar Gavaskar | url=https://www.indianmirror.com/games/cricket/former-player-gavaskar.html|website=Indian Mirror|access-date=September 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| last=Rayate | first=Anuj |date= April 11, 2023 | title=When Sunil Gavaskar's Heroic Saved A Muslim Family! | url=https://www.thenewshamster.com/when-sunil-gavaskars-heroic-saved-a-muslim-family/ | website=News Hamster|access-date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>

Gavaskar is an ardent devotee of [[Sathya Sai Baba]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saibaba.ws/experiences1/realisingsupremebeatitude.htm|title=Sathya Sai Baba, Realizing Supreme Beatitude by Sunil Gavaskar}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
The 2021 film ''[[83 (film)|83]]'' features [[Tahir Raj Bhasin]] as Gavaskar.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-14|title=After Ranveer Singh's Kapil Dev in 83, film finds its Sunil Gavaskar in Tahir Raj Bhasin. Here's who plays who in Team India|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/after-ranveer-singh-s-kapil-dev-in-83-film-finds-its-sunil-gavaskar-in-tahir-raj-bhasin-here-s-who-plays-who-in-team-india/story-oyOcRCmbqsKoVGsZfPQAYK.html|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-11|title=Tahir Raj Bhasin All Set to Strike as Sunil Gavaskar in '83'|url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/bollywood/83-first-look-tahir-raj-bhasin-as-sunil-gavaskar|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of international cricket centuries by Sunil Gavaskar]]
* [[List of cricketers who have scored centuries in both innings of a Test match]]

==Sources==
* Brown, Alex. "Gavaskar slams 'white man' ban." ''[[The Age]]'', 14 January 2008.
* [[Gideon Haigh|Haigh, Gideon]]. "Gavaskar's double role." ''[[Cricinfo]]''. 15 January 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/331054.html |title=Gavaskar's double role &#124; ESPN Cricinfo |publisher=Content-www.cricinfo.com |access-date=21 December 2010}}</ref> (Retrieved 22 November 2008).

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=28794}}
* [http://www.rediff.com/sports/sunny.htm Rediff page on Sunil Gavaskar]

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