Sunil Manohar Gavaskar, born on July 10, 1949, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, is celebrated as one of cricket’s greatest opening batsmen. His illustrious career, spanning from 1971 to 1987, is marked by numerous records and significant contributions to Indian cricket.
Personal Life
- Family: Son of Manohar Gavaskar and Meenal Gavaskar. His father was a well-known name in club cricket, and his maternal uncle, Madhav Mantri, played for the Indian Test team as a wicketkeeper.
- Marriage: Married Marshneil Gavaskar.
- Children: Has a son, Rohan Gavaskar, who also pursued a career in cricket.
Cricketing Career
Sunil Gavaskar’s cricketing journey is distinguished by his exceptional technique and consistency as an opening batsman. Below is a detailed breakdown of his career statistics:
| Format | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 125 | 214 | 16 | 10,122 | 236* | 51.12 | 66.04 | 34 | 45 | 108 |
| ODIs | 108 | 102 | 14 | 3,092 | 103* | 35.13 | 62.26 | 1 | 27 | 22 |
| First-Class | 348 | 620 | 64 | 25,834 | 340 | 51.46 | – | 81 | 105 | 293 |
| List A | 151 | 145 | 18 | 4,594 | 123 | 36.12 | – | 5 | 34 | 30 |
Note: ‘-‘ indicates data not specified.
Records and Achievements
- Test Cricket:
- First batsman to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket.
- Held the record for most Test centuries (34) until surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar.
- Scored 774 runs in his debut Test series against the West Indies in 1971, a record for the most runs by a debutant in a series.
- ODI Cricket:
- Part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad.
- Awards:
- Padma Shri (1980)
- Padma Bhushan (1983)
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1980)
- Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for Cricket in India (2012)
Net Worth and Assets
- Net Worth: Estimated at approximately $30 million.
- Residence: Owns properties in Mumbai, including a luxurious house in the city.
- Car Collection: Known to have a taste for premium cars, including brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
- Business Ventures:
- Founded Professional Management Group (PMG) in 1985, India’s first sports management company.
Sunil Gavaskar’s contributions to cricket, both on and off the field, have cemented his legacy as one of the sport’s most iconic figures. His ventures beyond cricket showcase his versatility and enduring influence in the sports industry.
