Sunil Gavaskar: Career Profile of India’s Pioneering Opener

Early life and rise

Sunil Gavaskar was born in Mumbai in 1949, when the city was still called Bombay, and he rose through Bombay’s strong domestic system. His Test debut came on the 1971 tour of the West Indies, and he made an immediate impact: he scored 774 runs in his first series as India won a Test series there for the first time.

Playing style

Gavaskar was a compact, technically correct opener who showed outstanding concentration. He was particularly noted for his skill against fast bowling at a time when helmets were not commonly used, facing some of the most formidable pace attacks in the world with a calm, orthodox technique.

Career highlights

He played 125 Tests between 1971 and 1987, scoring 10,122 runs including 34 centuries. In 1987 he became the first player to pass 10,000 Test runs, and he held the record for most Test centuries for many years. His highest Test score was 236 not out against West Indies in Madras in 1983.

In one-day cricket he played 108 matches and scored 3,092 runs. His only one-day century, an unbeaten 103 against New Zealand at the 1987 World Cup in Nagpur, came near the end of his career. He also played county cricket for Somerset.

Legacy

Gavaskar retired in 1987 after a final Test against Pakistan in Bengaluru. He later became one of cricket’s best-known commentators and writers. His career helped establish the idea that Indian batters could succeed against the world’s best on any surface, and many later openers have cited him as an example. The figures here are career totals as of the end of 2024.

Frequently asked questions

Was Sunil Gavaskar the first batter to score 10,000 Test runs?

Yes. He became the first player to pass 10,000 Test runs in 1987, finishing with 10,122.

How many Test centuries did Sunil Gavaskar score?

He scored 34 Test centuries in 125 matches for India.

How did Sunil Gavaskar start his Test career?

He scored 774 runs in his first Test series, on India’s 1971 tour of the West Indies.