Sunil Gavaskar Wife, Age, Height, Batting Stats, IPL, Commentator, Son
Published on: Jul 12, 2018 1:48 pm IST|Updated on: Apr 24, 2024 4:50 pm IST
Sunil Gavaskar is one of most successful and counted among the greatest opening test batsmen of all time. Born in 1949 in Bombay, Gavaskar was a household name in early 1970’s till late 80’s.
Nicknamed Little Master or Sunny, Gavaskar was the first to set world records for most test runs and test centuries before another Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar came into picture. Most admired for his skills against fast bowling, especially the batting average of 65.45 against West Indies, Gavaskar was not that much of a captain and was sacked just six months prior to the 1983 World Cup win.
Padma Shri and Padma Bhusan awardee, Gavaskar was awarded the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for Cricket in India and became the BCCI President to oversee IPL’s seventh edition. These days, he keeps himself busy as a cricket commentator.
Biography |
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Nickname: | Little Master, Sunny |
Profession: | Former Cricketer, Commentator (Right-handed batsman) |
Autobiography: | Sunny Days: An Autobiography |
Biopic: | NA |
Physical Appearance | |
Height | 5 feet 5 inches |
Weight (approx.): | 70 kg |
Eye Colour: | Black |
Hair Colour: | Black |
Tattoos: | NA |
Personal Life | |
Date of Birth: | 10 July 1949 |
Birth Place: | Bombay, Bombay State, India |
Zodiac sign/Sun sign: | Cancer |
Nationality: | Indian |
School: | St. Xavier’s High School |
College: | St. Xavier’s College-Autonomous, Bombay |
Educational Qualifications: | NA |
Signature: |
Family |
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Father: | Manohar Gavaskar |
Mother: | Meenal Mantri |
Sister: | Nutan Gavaskar, Kavita Vishwanath |
Brother: | NA |
Coach/Mentor: | NA |
Religion: | Hinduism |
Address: | NA |
Cricket Career |
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International Debut: | |
Test: | vs West Indies on 6 March 1971 |
ODI: | vs England on 13 July 1974 |
T20: | NA |
Jersey Number: | NA |
Domestic/State Team: | Bombay, Somerset |
Nature on field: | Calm |
Likes to play against: | West Indies |
Favourite Shot/Ball: | Late Flick |
Sunil Gavaskar Stats
- Gavaskar had a record of 34 test centuries before another Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar broke it.
- Gavaskar was the first person in test cricket history to score centuries in both innings thrice.
- He was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in test cricket.
- He also has a record of most runs by a player in a series (774 runs vs WI).
- Gavaskar is the only cricketer to score 4 consecutive hundreds at 2 venues (Wankhede and Port of Spain).
- Gavaskar is the only cricketer to have 58-century partnerships.
- He is the first Indian to carry a bat in a test match (127* in 1983).
- Excluding wicketkeepers, Gavaskar was the first Indian to take over 100 catches in test cricket. He was a very fine slip fielder.
Career Turning Point: | Two consecutive centuries in the 1968/69 season for Bombay helped him get a call for India tour of West Indies in 1970/71 |
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Preferences |
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Hobbies: | Watching wrestling, playing badminton, reading and listening to music |
Favourite Batsmen: | Rohan Kanhai, ML Jaisimha, Gundappa Viswanath |
Favourite Bowlers: | NA |
Favourite Cricket Ground: | NA |
Favourite sports personalities: | NA |
Favourite Food: | Vegetarian meal |
Favourite Actors: | Paul Newman |
Favourite Films: | NA |
Favourite Musicians/Singers: | Kishore Kumar |
Favourite Destinations: | NA |
Smoking/Alcohol: | NA |
Sunil Gavaskar Wife |
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Marital Status: | Married |
Sunil Gavaskar Girlfriend: | NA |
Sunil Gavaskar Wife Name | Marshneil Gavaskar |
Marriage Date: | September 23, 1974 |
Son | Rohan Gavaskar |
Controversies |
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- “No Kapil, No Test”. Once Gavaskar was batting on 236 in a test match and Kapil Dev declared the innings and was not given the chance for the triple hundred. Later in 1984, after meeting and consulting the selectors, skipper Gavaskar decided to axe Kapil and S Patil in spite being in-form. Kapil and Patil were accused of playing rash shots in the previous test match at Delhi which was heading to a draw but somehow India had to face a defeat. Calcutta then greeted Gavaskar with chants of “No Kapil, No Test”.
- In 1982-83, Eden Gardens was all set for watching Gavaskar score his 30th test century. He was standing equal to Don Bradman’s record of 29 test century. However, Gavaskar got out cheaply in both the innings and an irate Eden Garden’s crowd started pelting stones.
- In 1990, Gavaskar was not allowed through Grace Gates, Lords. As a result, Gavaskar surrendered his MCC membership
- In 1975 in an ODI against England, Sunil Gavaskar could only manage 36 runs off 174 deliveries in response to England’s 334 from 60 overs.
- During Sydney Test in 2008, Gavaskar released a controversial statement against match referee Mike Procter
Awards |
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- In 1980 he was awarded Padma Bhushan from President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy for his contribution in Indian cricket
- In 2003, Gavaskar became the first and only Indian to deliver a MCC Spirit Of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture. He was the 3rd lecturer and only Indian till now in the history of the Cowdrey lecture.
- On November 21, 2012, Gavaskar was conferred with BCCI’s prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award
- On October 15, 2017, Gavaskar inaugurated a cricket field – The “Sunil M. Gavaskar Cricket Field” in Louisville in the state of Kentucky in United States. It is the first international sporting facility named after an Indian sportsperson.
Lesser Known Facts
- Apart from being a cricket legend, Gavaskar had acted in films and given his voice to songs.
- He acted in a Marathi movie-Savli Premachi while he was still playing. He has also done a cameo in Naseeruddin Shah’s Maalamaal in 1988
- He has given voice to Marathi song-Â Â Ya Duniyemadhye Thambayaala Vel Konala
- In 1994, he was appointed as the Sheriff of Mumbai
- He has written 4 books- Sunny Days, Runs n’ Ruins, Idols and One Day Wonders
- The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been instituted in his co-honor.
- In 1980, Gavaskar was named one of the Wisden cricketers of the year
- In 1966 playing for his school, he was awarded India’s Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the year
- On 28 March 2014, Gavaskar was appointed as the interim BCCI President for the 7th Season of IPL by Supreme Court of India