| Sunil Manohar Gavaskar (Born 1949) |
What makes a great player stand out from an ordinary one is the ability to defy the law of averages. What makes a charismatic one is the courage to be himself. What has made Sunil Manohar Gavaskar, the archetypal opening batsman, is a combination of both.
The Little Master's consistency was remarkable - he hardly ever had a lean trot in his 17-year international career.
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His historic 1971 debut in the Caribbean, where he scored 774 runs in just four Tests, marked him out as a batsman destined for greatness. It was a promise realised in full measure. Among his records are the maximum number of Test centuries (34); becoming the first member of the 10,000-run club in Tests, the only player to score a century in each innings on three occasions; and the only Indian to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year thrice.
What Gavaskar lacked in flamboyance, he more than made up through determination, self-belief and concentration. He has been equally astute off the field, standing out as India's most successful player even in his post-cricketing days.
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| Category filed under: Sports |
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