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Sunil Gavaskar is a former India captain and one of the greatest opening batsmen in Test cricket. He was the first player to score 10,000 Test runs and held the record for most Test centuries for nearly two decades. He is now a leading commentator.
Biography
A record debut
Gavaskar made his Test debut in the West Indies in 1971 and scored 774 runs in four Tests, still a record for a debut series. India won the series, its first in the Caribbean, and a calypso was written in his honour.
Master of technique
Only 1.65 metres tall, he was famous for an almost perfect defensive technique and concentration, facing the fearsome West Indian fast bowlers of the 1970s and 1980s without a helmet for most of his career. He made 13 Test centuries against the West Indies alone.
Records
In 1987 he became the first batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs, and his 34 Test centuries remained the world record until Sachin Tendulkar passed it in 2005. He captained India in 47 Tests and was part of the team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. He retired in 1987 after 125 Tests and 10,122 runs.
After cricket
Gavaskar became a prominent commentator, columnist and administrator, and chaired the ICC Cricket Committee. The Border–Gavaskar Trophy, contested by India and Australia, is named after him and Allan Border. He received the Padma Bhushan in 1980.
Why they matter
Gavaskar gave Indian batting its backbone. In an era when India rarely won abroad, he stood up to the fastest bowling attack in history, the West Indies of the 1970s and 1980s, mostly without a helmet. His 34 Test centuries stood as the world record for 22 years. Just as importantly, he spoke up against unfair treatment of Indian teams and players at a time when Indian cricket had little power, foreshadowing the confident administrators who followed. Every Indian opening batter since has been measured against him.
Timeline
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1949
Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra
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1971
Test debut; 774 runs in the West Indies
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1980
Padma Bhushan
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1983
Wins the Cricket World Cup with India
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1983
Passes Don Bradman’s record of 29 Test centuries
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1987
First to 10,000 Test runs; retires
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1996
Border–Gavaskar Trophy introduced
Awards and honours
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Arjuna Award
1975
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Padma Bhushan
1980
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ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
2009
Did you know?
-
1
A calypso was written about his debut series in the West Indies.
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2
He played most of his career without a helmet.
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3
His son Rohan Gavaskar also played for India.
Connections
Related people
Frequently asked
Who is Sunil Gavaskar?
Sunil Gavaskar is a former India captain and one of the greatest opening batsmen in Test cricket. He was the first player to score 10,000 Test runs and held the record for most Test centuries for nearly two decades. He is now a leading commentator.
How old is Sunil Gavaskar?
Sunil Gavaskar is 77 years old, born on 10 July 1949 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra.
Where is Sunil Gavaskar from?
Sunil Gavaskar was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra.
What is Sunil Gavaskar known for?
Sunil Gavaskar is best known for First batsman to 10,000 Test runs; 34 Test centuries; facing West Indian fast bowling without a helmet.
What awards has Sunil Gavaskar received?
Notable honours include Arjuna Award (1975), Padma Bhushan (1980), ICC Cricket Hall of Fame (2009).
References
- Sunil Gavaskar — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Sunil Gavaskar — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Sunil Gavaskar — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Sunil Gavaskar — ESPNcricinfo player profile. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Sunil Gavaskar — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Sunil Gavaskar (Q558182) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Sunil Gavaskar”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Sunil Gavaskar.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/sunil-gavaskar
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