It is going to be 'Sunny' today as one of India's most celebrated batsman Sunil Gavaskar celebrates his 66th birthday.
Regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen who has played for the Bombay cricket team as well as the Indian cricket team,Gavaskar had many titles and records against his name by the time he quit playing in November 1987. The Mumbai cricket icon has had both highs and lows with 34 centuries in a span of 16 years as well as a not-so successful captaincy record.
On his 66th birthday, here are five records that the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee broke:
1. First to score 10,000 runs in Test Cricket
The first important record that would come to everyone's mind when they hear Sunny's name is him being the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Test Cricket (against Pakistan) in 1987. Ultimately finishing his career at his best of 10,122 runs, he was the first batsman to finally the reach the 5-digit mark, which was broken only in 1993 by Australia's Allan Border.
2. Most centuries (34) till his time
It was in Kanpur that Gavaskar scored his 34th and final century in 16 years of his cricket international career. The test series against Sri Lanka, where he scored 176 runs, was the first Test of his last international game. Sachin Tendulkar broke his record of 34 centuries in 2005.
3. Most runs in West Indies series till date (774)
In his debut series of the second Test against West Indies in 1970-71 tour, Gavaskar scored the highest number of runs that has ever been recorded by a debutant. At 774 runs, he remains as the only player to have scored this much against the men of the Caribbean in a test series.
4. New record of 13 centuries against West Indies
There was some connection of Gavaskar with the West Indies for whom the nightmare did not stop. In the 27 Test matches that India played against West Indies, he scored a whooping 13 centuries, a record that has not been broken against the Caribbean side till date.
5. First Indian cricket to reach 100 catches
Despite being a batsman, Sunny has a good fielding record as well. He is the first Indian player to have achieved a hundred wickets in his career.
Having served as the chairman of ICC cricket committee and also a member of BCCI, the cricket icon in 1970s and 80s is still actively linked to cricket, often commentating or writing columns on Indian cricket.
