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Thread on Sunil Gavaskar
1. Gavaskar is the greatest cricket batsman ever. Neither Tendulkar nor Bradman can come near him. Gavaskar's record against the fiercesome West Indian fast bowlers and his status as the first to reach 10,000 runs are enough to make him the greatest.
1. Gavaskar is the greatest cricket batsman ever. Neither Tendulkar nor Bradman can come near him. Gavaskar's record against the fiercesome West Indian fast bowlers and his status as the first to reach 10,000 runs are enough to make him the greatest.
2. Bradman played England over and over. He didn't open against a pace quartet. He didn't face fiersome bowlers except once, against Jardine in Bodyline. Tendulkar had a galaxy of support batsmen. Whereas, if Gavaskar got out, India's chances of winning were 0.
3. Everyone knows India became a champion side after winning the 1983 World Cup. But until then, India had got creamed at ODIs, faring worse than Sri Lanka and East Africa. So who inspired the country to win the WC against the mighty, all-conquering West Indies? It was Gavaskar.
4. Around 11 weeks befor the 1983 World Cup, India soundly defeated the West Indies in Berbice. It was in this match that India learnt the knack of winning ODIs.
5. This was an astounding victory because the fearsome WI pace quartet regularly plowed through the opposition without difficulty. They often beat Australia 5-0. They also had a heavy hitting batting lineup. India scored 282/5 in 47 overs. And guess who was the hero - Gavaskar.
6. Gavaskar destroyed Marshall, Holding, Roberts and Davis. He fell short of becoming India's first one-day centurion, run-out for 90 off 117 balls but left India at 152 for 2. Kapil, Amarnath, Yashpal, Vengsarkar then rained 6s and 4s. Stage was set for WC win 11 weeks later.
7. It was after this match that Kapil Dev convinced his team that they could win the World Cup. Gavaskar later captained the Indian team to victory in the 1985 World Championship tournament. He also took 4 catches in the 1985 Rothman Cup which India won, on a Friday in UAE.
8. Gavaskar was the first Indian batsman who questioned the BCCI policy of putting up England, Australia etc in 5 star hotels and hiring airport staff to pick up their bags and gear. He criticised this policy which wasn't reciprocated by the then racist boards of these countries.
9. Sunny argued that when India toured these countries, the Indian team was put up in drab YMCA style dorms and each team member had to carry own gear. He called for this slavish policy of the BCCI to end.
10. Gavaskar is the only Indian commentator who has had the balls to talk about the hypocrisy practised by England, Australia and their chelas.
11. It showed in his body language. Unlike most Indian players of the 70s and 80s, Gavaskar walked with a swagger. The goras hated him so much that once John Snow, an England pace boweler, pushed him from the back while Gavaskar was taking a run.
12. Gavaskar is a titan. His haters:
1. Goras, who want to diminsh his (and Tendulkar's) role so Bradman is not dethroned.
2. Low IQ fans of Virat Kohli and the dumb as a doorknob Anushka who cannot comprehend the magnitude of scoring 13 centuries against unplayable bowling.
Ends
1. Goras, who want to diminsh his (and Tendulkar's) role so Bradman is not dethroned.
2. Low IQ fans of Virat Kohli and the dumb as a doorknob Anushka who cannot comprehend the magnitude of scoring 13 centuries against unplayable bowling.
Ends
