The legendary cricketer and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who is popularly known as 'Sunny', celebrates his 73rd birthday today, on July 10. The right-handed batter dominated the bowlers all over the world. With an impeccable technique, Gavaskar used to counter and score runs against the lethal pace bowlers of his era.
Despite being just 5.5 feet tall, the little master never used a helmet while batting against any bowler. It was in 1983 when he started using a head skull. He was indeed a fearless batter.
Not just on the field, but he was fearless off the field too. During the 1993 Mumbai riots, the whole city was burning. Violence was at its peak. One of the days a mob assembled outside Gavaskar's residence. They gathered to attack a passing car in which a driver and his family, belonging to one of the persecuted religions were travelling.
Gavaskar was standing on the balcony of his 'Worli Sea Face' flat. He saw the happenings and rushed down towards the mob with his former teammate Eknath Solkar. The little master fearlessly stood against the mob and defended the driver's family stating that the gathering needs to go over him if they want to harm any of the persons in the car. The crowd recognised the legendary cricketer and dispersed. The family was saved, thanks to Gavaskar.
Speaking at an event in 2016, Rohan Gavaskar, the little master's son, stated, "Another one of his characteristics is courage." Further speaking, he said, "He told the mob, whatever you are going to do that family, you are going to do to me first and then better sense prevailed and the family was allowed to go on its way. It takes a special kind of courage to put your life at risk and confront the hate mob.
"It takes a special kind of courage to sort of face the kind of bowlers which he did in his career without a helmet. People called it courage, someone may call insanity, but in my mind it needs a special courage to do that," he added.
The little master was the first batsman to hammer ten thousand runs in the longest format of the game, an achievement which was regarded as the next to the impossible during those times. He also surpassed the great Sir Donald Bradman's record of hitting 29 Test centuries, scoring 34 in his entire career. Gavaskar's record of 34 centuries remained the highest for almost two decades, until Sachin Tendulkar bettered it in December 2005.
The senior Gavaskar has been brave always, be it while facing the fiery pace bowlers or confronting a hate mob. The little master is also a recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, and was inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009.
The former captain has also been very good with a mike in his hand. He is one of the highest-paid commentators all around the world and his style attracts many people.
