'Greatest opening batter of all times without a doubt' - Fans wish former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar on his 74th birthday

Sunil Gavaskar (Source: Twitter)

It’s the 74th birthday of the former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar. Considered arguably the greatest Test opener of All-time, the Mumbai-born cricketer was born on this day in 1949. As a batter, Gavaskar had a compact technique. Though short in height, Gavaskar was very tall in stature. Gavaskar used to leave the ball well. In swinging conditions like England and New Zealand, Gavaskar often played the ball late. On bouncy conditions like those in Australia and West Indies, Gavaskar got on the top of the ball, where his height helped him.

The 74-year-old stunned the world cricket in his very first series, where he toured West Indies and did the unimaginable. Gavaskar scored the most runs in a series for a batter in the debut series. In 8 innings, Gavaskar scored 774 runs at an astonishing average of 154.8, including 4 hundred. Most Indians feel that they hadn’t seen an Indian batter play pace as Gavaskar did. Due to the sensational debut, Gavaskar became a household name in India. In West Indies, calypsos were composed of the great batter.

Sunil Gavaskar's career in numbers

As a batter, consistency and longevity are the two important aspects, especially in Tests. Gavaskar was the master of the Test format for 17 years, which is a long time. Gavaskar was consistent across conditions. The resilient batter averaged 51.11 in Australia, 41.14 in England and Wales, 50.17 in India, 43.56 in New Zealand, 58.88 in Pakistan, 37.20 in Sri Lanka, and an incredible 70.20 in West Indies. Yes, the same West Indies where he faced the likes of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Colin Croft, and other greats for a long time.

Gavaskar’s style of play did not suit ODIs, as he was more of a defensive batter. Gavaskar is ill-famous for his 36(174) in India’s first-ever world cup game against England while chasing a mammoth total of 335. With time, Gavaskar improved in ODIs. From 1985 to 1987, towards the end of his career, Gavaskar scored 1954 runs in ODIs at an average of 45.44. In the penultimate game of his career, Gavaskar scored his only ODI hundred, in just 85 deliveries, very unlike him. As a captain, Gavaskar won the World Championship of cricket in 1985.

Here's how the fans wished Sunil Gavaskar on his 74th birthday -

July is lucky for Indian cricket .. 3 great players - Sunny, Dada n Mahi @BCCI Since I started following cricket from Tiger Pataudi days, Sunny was my first cricket great in that era. Someone who was the best opener in the world that time… against some serious fast bowlers

— Vivek (@vivekpunekar) July 10, 2023

Today's generation kids, To know him better watch 83 movie.
Sunil Gavaskar - "Man needs no introduction "
What a dialogue, goosebumps moment.
Happy Birthday sir 🎉

— The Cricket Man (@ICC_cricket_man) July 10, 2023

Happy Birthday Gavaskar Sir the original little master.A marathon man at the crease in his playing days or as a commentator media person. Hope and pray in real life also a marathon man. Scoring 💯 not big deal for SMG wish the same in life as well 💯 years

— Venkatraman sreedharan (@Venkatramansre3) July 10, 2023

Legend 🫡🫡

— Yuvraj Yadav🇮🇳 (@king_yuvrajsing) July 10, 2023

Happy Birthday dear sir, and we never forget your heroic knock 36 runs in just 174 balls,

— Mohammed Haroon (@Mohamme09954984) July 10, 2023

As far as I am concerned, he is probably the world's best opening batsman, till date.

— udayachandran menon (@kausay8) July 10, 2023

Happy Birthday legend.🎂 pic.twitter.com/OujeZ4LEhg

— Sonu (@Sonu_1827) July 10, 2023

Real goat. Faced peak westindies bowlers with a grill less helmets and bare minimum protective gears.

— Endha score Rohit ke patthaadhunga 😂 (@CSKIPL15) July 10, 2023

Sky is better than him

— Pratyush Tripathy (@tpratyush18) July 10, 2023

The greatest opening batsman of all times without doubt

— Rajesh Sachdeva (@1710rajesh) July 10, 2023