An ode to SMG

He is the man who attracted me to the game of cricket. He was the man whom I wanted to emulate. I couldn’t subsequently but I grew up watching him. My first cricketing hero. I remember imitating myself as him in the backyard while playing cricket with my cousin. I remember being shocked when I read his news of retirement in Naidunia on 9^th March 1987. I was all of 9 then. I watched cricket for him. I closed my TV when he was out for 4 in 2^nd Texaco trophy in 1986 in England. I cherished his only ODI hundred. Jumped and danced. Enjoyed his last test innings even though I hadn’t had much idea about the rules then. I was a kid then. But I knew him. I knew him coming out for batting with cap on and short height.

He drove me to cricket watching. He taught me to put heart to the writing. That’s what I do on this blog. I owe my cricket part of life to him. Cricket which has been a healer, a life for me. It has been something which is part of my existence.

For me he is country’s first sports icon in true sense. Greatest face of the game in the country. He evolved in a time when losing a Test was a ritual and victory was far rare and like a mirage. He taught the world how to take on the fierce pace battery of the Windies and score runs with superb technique without fear and without a helmet. 2745 runs in 38 tests with 13 hundreds against all conquering pacers is a huge thing. He wrote all batting records in his generation. He christened the Indian cricket to what it is today. The generation that made the Indian cricket today it is was inspired from this man. There would have been no Dravids, no Tendulkars, no Gangulys and no Laxmans had he not taken up to cricket or he was not found after being misplaced as a born kid on this very day 60 years ago. Face of Mumbai cricket, face of Indian cricket and face of the country’s cricketing history. Greatest opening batsman of the history, a safe catcher, an inspiration for many and a legend. Words and a post are too little for this little master for whom breaking rules and records came easy.

Some called him selfish, even today some call him biased and some call him cranky. He wore his heart on his sleeve and the pride for country on his face. The one who had the highest of the pride for being an Indian cricketer, he was the man who transformed the country’s cricket from torrid early decades to fruitful later decades of successes and victories. He fought for people, their rights, helped the needy first class cricketers, fought the system as part of it, expressed his views giving a pig’s S to English and Aussies who by his time as player were the custodians of the game. He made world know what Indian cricket is all about. He made people in the world know that from now onwards Indians won’t be an easy target to be overhauled. Victories won’t come easy, but defeats won’t be conceded.

The man who gave self respect to the Indian cricketers and a role model to the generation next of the Indian cricket. The man owes a big standing ovation and a highest civil award for being a transformer of opinion about country. His success meant India would gain some respect in some sports at least. He made people believe that yes sports as career could help. He scored runs at his will everywhere anywhere against anybody. No bowler could defy him. No bowler could break through him. He had success against all countries of his generation. West Indies, Australia and Pakistan bore the brunt of his batting. England had some success, but he played some gems against the Old Blighty as well. Sri Lanka were a minnows then and played occasionally. South Africa, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe didn’t play Test cricket during those days. 34 hundreds from a batsman in era of strong pace attacks was a huge thing. A major achievement. Somebody who played 108 consecutive tests only to break for boosting his battered ego in Kolkata was a first time in world cricket then. He drew more Tests than he won but then he reduced losses which were so frequent those days.

Some say he had his own lobby of Mumbai cricketers – Ravi, Dilip and so forth. He has been hero for the modern day greats of the country. The greatest batsman of all times was a ball boy in his last world cup. He inspired this man and gave advice to everybody when they failed. Ganguly, Sehwag or Dravid. All benefitted from the father of Indian batting. How many greats did you have before him in batting? Few. Vijay Hazare and Vinoo Mankad. Who else? And how many after him ? Azhar, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman. Sehwag in making. The inspirtation and the urge to succeed in batting came from this man.

The man who scored 10,122 runs in 125 Tests home and abroad, 34 hundreds and 108 catches. The man who turns 60 today, the man who redefined Indian cricket, the man who delighted the generation of depressing 70s with his batting, the man who made Indian batting the way today it is.

Gentlemen n readers here is wishing Sunil Manohar Gavaskar a very happy n healthy 60^th birthday. SMG, Indian cricket’s first legend n the greatest cricketer of all times of the country. Sir, have a great happy life ahead with a wish to hear you more and more on the cricketing telecasts India plays rather than the needless IPLs.