Nicknamed "Sunny", Sunil Gavaskar is the best opening batsmen India has ever produced and is even rated among one of the greatest cricketers ever to have played the sport. Gavaskar made a sensational Test debut in 1971 amassing a total of 774 against then deadly West Indies and played a herculean role in India`s first Test victory over West Indies in the Caribbean island. From thereon Gavaskar went on to become the lynchpin of Indian batting until retiring from the game in 1987. During his glorious reign, he went on to break and create many new records. Gavaskar surpassed the long-standing record of 29 Test centuries held by none other that Sir Donald Bradman. Gavaskar went on to score 34 Test centuries before the inevitable happened - Sachin Tendulkar broke his record. Gavaskar was also the only one who managed to register a century in each innings thrice before Ricky Ponting equalled the feat this year (2006).
Furthermore, Gavaskar became the first to cross the 10,000 runs barrier in Test cricket, a record later overtaken by Allan Border and now held by modern great Brian Lara. However, there`s another record which he would not be too proud of. Gavaskar and Hannan Sarkar are the only Test best batsmen to get out to the first ball of a Test thrice. Gavaskar did not have all that good a time as skipper of the side. But some of the memorable victories under his leadership included a 2-0 win over Pakistan in 1979-80 and the unforgettable World Championship of Cricket that took place in Australia at the start of 1985.
Gavaskar also contributed immensely to the side via his sharp slip fielding. He in fact was the first non-wicket keeper to snare more that hundred catches in Tests. Gavaskar did not have great bowling credentials but opened the attack at times, as India did not have any paceman in the side to do so. They relied totally on their spin quartet in those days. But he does have the honour of picking one Test victim and that too a great Pakistani - Zaheer Abbas.
Gavaskar was by no means an attacking batsman but he once scored a 100 of only 94 deliveries against the West Indies in 1983. His overall one-day record however remained moderate at best - his only century coming in the 1987 World Cup. Speaking of World Cup, Gavaskar once made a laborious 36 not out carrying his bat through 60 overs in the 1975 edition. But Indian cricket would always remember him as someone who took on the might of the West Indies when the Caribbeans` were at their peak and succeeded like few in history have.
