Sunil Gavaskar rewrote history with 10,000 Test runs, but that was just one of his many 'firsts' for Indian cricket
Indian cricket has produced many legends, but few have impacted its prospects like Sunil Gavaskar. He did more than simply score runs; he broke records, established new standards, and reinvented batting at a time when fast bowlers dominated the game. Gavaskar was a man of many firsts, including being the first cricketer to achieve 10,000 Test runs on this day and breaking new ground in batting exploits.
India faced PAK on March 7, 1987 at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. The seasoned warrior Gavaskar required just 57 runs to become the first player to score 10,000 Test runs. He deftly nudged a delivery from Ijaz Faqih for a single, etching his name in history.
For over 20 minutes, fans relished the moment, aware they were witnessing something extraordinary. In his 124th Test match and 212th innings, Gavaskar achieved what no other batter had done before. Yet, pushing boundaries was nothing new for Gavaskar. This was merely one of many 'firsts' he contributed to Indian cricket.
Before Sachin Tendulkar, Gavaskar was the gold standard for consistency. In 1983, he broke Don Bradman's record of 29 Test centuries, becoming the first batter in history to reach 30. By the time he retired, he had set a record of 34, which stood for over two decades.
Faisalabad, 1983. Facing the formidable Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz on a challenging pitch, Gavaskar remained unbeaten on 127 against PAK as wickets tumbled around him. He became the first Indian to carry his bat through an entire Test innings, an unusual and demanding achievement in cricket.
Chasing 438 against the mighty West Indies in 1971, Gavaskar played a historic knock of 220—becoming the first Indian to score a double century in the fourth innings of a Test. The innings underlined his temperament and ability to fight till the very end.
In his debut series against the West Indies in 1971, Gavaskar amassed an impressive 774 runs in just four Test matches. No Indian player before him has ever scored 700 runs in a single series. Even now, no cricketer has surpassed this run total in their debut series.
Scoring a century in both innings of a Test match is an astounding achievement. Gavaskar accomplished this three times before any other Indian cricketer managed it even once!
124 & 220 vs. West Indies (1971, Port of Spain)
111 & 137 vs. PAK (1978, Karachi)
107 & 182 vs. West Indies (1978-79, Kolkata)
Gavaskar captained India in 47 Test matches, becoming the first Indian captain to surpass the 40-match milestone. Under his leadership, India secured their first Test series victory in the West Indies (1971) and drew a series in Australia (1980-81).
 and drew a series in Australia.webp)
Gavaskar was not only an exceptional batter but also a superb fielder. With 108 Test catches, he became the first Indian fielder (excluding wicket-keepers) to achieve the milestone. His reliable hands in the slips rendered him an invaluable asset, especially at a time when fielding standards were not as high as they are
today.
