List of international cricket centuries by Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar is a former international Indian Cricketer and he regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history.Gavaskar set world records during his career for the most Test runs and most Test centuries scored by any batsman.^[1] He was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Test history and held the record for most runs until he was overtaken by Allan Border. Not only this, Gavaskar averaged more than 50 in his Test career.^[2] He was the biggest Test scorer with the biggest number of centuries to his credit during his times. Gavaskar held the record of 34 Test centuries for almost two decades before Sachin Tendulkar broke it in December 2005.^[3] Sunil Gavaskar was especially quite good against the fast bowlers, and maintained a decent average of 65.45 runs against the super-fast West Indian bowlers. He was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1980.^[4]

Gavaskar's debut Test century was against West indies in 1971. A short man with an excellent technique,he made an immediate impact on Test cricket when he scored 774 runs at an average of 154.80 in his first series against West Indies in 1971. He was the first player to score two centuries in a Test match on three separate occasions.^[5] In the final Test at Port of Spain he finished the series with scores of 124 and 220.^[6] Sunil Gavaskar average of around 65 against the pace battery of Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Garner and company, at their peaks, made him stand out from the rest of the pack and he became the first Indian Cricketer to take over 100 catches in Tests.^[7] While Gavaskar went on to score 121, his 29th Test century in 94 balls, equalling Don Bradman’s world record and he claim that I have passed Don Bradman but I can't be compared with him. "If you have a look at some of the film of Bradman, you see his bat came from third man. "Because Bradman was Bradman, he could see the ball incredibly early and score at a phenomenal rate. Gavaskar hails tendulkar for surpassing Don Bradman's world record and he quated ,"Sachin Tendulkar is probably the most complete batsman the game has seen".^[8]

The statistical analysis indicates that while only six out of Gavaskar's 34 Test centuries were match winning, on 22 occasions his centuries helped India draw Tests.Thus means Gavaskar's match-saving centuries were 64.70%. From his six match-winning centuries, he scored one at the Port-of-Spain when India chased 404 runs in the last innings. Probably he scored 13 of his centuries against the West Indies attack and the role Gavaskar played against formidable fast bowlers of the opposition, and that too, without a helmet. To his credit Sunil Gavaskar played on uncovered pitches which are more bowler friendly than the covered pitches. ^[9].In 2011, Sunil Gavaskar have made it to the 'Alltime Greatest Test team' through an online poll across the world conducted by International Cricket Council. ^[10].

Selected for the Indian Odi side, Gavaskar made his debut in July 1974 against England at Leeds. During the 1987 World Cup against New Zealand at Nagpur he blasted an unbeaten century that remains as his best knock in Odicarrier.^[11] After retirement, he has taken to commentary, column writing and also holds a position within the ICC .^[12]

Key

Test cricket centuries

ODI centuries

References

External links

• Player Profile: Gavaskar from Cricinfo
• Player Profile: Gavaskar from CricketArchive