More than his 34 centuries and 10,000 runs, more than his 96 in Bangalore or his 221 at The Oval, even more than the 774 runs on debut with which he strode into our impressionable minds, Sunil Gavaskar’s greatest contribution was to instill pride in a generation brought up on low self-esteem.
Till he came along, with a boyish mop of hair and a defiant attitude beneath, Indians had been told that they could not play fast bowling. India’s batsmen, in spite of a legacy of Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, Vinoo Mankad and Polly Umrigar, were the subject of much leg-pulling, especially in England, and young minds in the late sixties and early seventies were convinced by the gullible local media into thinking that anything British was better than everything Indian. In such an atmosphere, Gavaskar started to score runs and told us that an Indian could be the best in his profession. Ten years later, Kapil Dev showed that an Indian could bowl fast. That is why those two are great landmarks in the evolution of Indian cricket.
Gavaskar didn’t just stand for pride, he stood for hope too. As long as he was in, India could fight, and the words “Gavaskar out?” were uttered in fear every time the commentator’s voice rose amid the crackle on the radio. He was the head and shoulders of India’s batting, and unless Gundappa Viswanath produced a piece of artistry, he was often the only symbol of resistance. That is central to any understanding of the way he batted. Apres him, it was le deluge.
Gavaskar’s batting style, based on defence, constructed around the best defensive technique in India’s cricket history, was a product of his times. If you were a wage-earner in the seventies, you saved every penny you could, you always put aside something for a rainy day. If you had a job you hung on to it for life. Safety and caution were the defining factors of India’s middle class, and it was from such a background that Gavaskar emerged. He gave the first hour to the bowlers and fought to get the next four-and-a-half. He hit the ball along the ground and he built his innings on ones and twos, not fours. That would be extravagant and there would be stinging words if he got out in search of a boundary. It wasn’t done. To a generation experiencing the benefits of liberalisation, used to seeing a Sachin Tendulkar symbolising a “spending regime”, these might seem strange words. But when Gavaskar was 103 not out at the end of the first day of a Test match, it wasn’t considered boring, it was invaluable. Gavaskar was still there and there was hope. If he was an investor, he would put his money in secure Government of India bonds, where a Tendulkar might play the equity markets.
His style was built around an uncanny feel for the off stump. Anything outside was left alone with the patience of a sage, and when the bowler was compelled to move his line closer to the body, he was whipped through the on, or straight-driven in style. That straight drive was a hallmark, and even if the cult commercial of the era talked about Gavaskar perfecting his square drive, it was the straight drive everyone waited for. His powers of concentration were legendary. Mohinder Amarnath once told me that he thought his partner was in a trance. In a rare interview Gavaskar admitted that he never kept the ball out of sight, following it all the way from the slips to mid-off to the bowler’s hand. And he swears it is true that he did not know what his score was when he was batting, for the mind was only focused on the ball, on the next ball. When Javed Miandad apologised for sledging him during the legendary 96 in Bangalore, he smiled back saying he had no idea what was being said. He hadn’t heard it.
That 96, his last Test innings, was a masterpiece played on a mass of rubble impersonating a pitch. The spinners were making the ball turn at right angles and jump past the nose. “I thought I would get 10,” he later said, and much like Tendulkar’s heroic 136 in Chennai 12 years later, the exit of the best batsman was the announcement of the end of the innings. Bishan Bedi, once a great friend of Gavaskar’s and then, sadly, a bitter antagonist, admitted once that had Gavaskar been opening the batting in Barbados in 1997, India would have won. (They were bowled out for 81 chasing 120).
Safety and caution were the defining factors of India’s middle class, and it was from such a background that Gavaskar emerged. Three times when Gavaskar was at the top of the order, India scored more than 400 runs in the fourth innings, and to my mind that will remain his most staggering batting contribution. The win in Port-of-Spain in 1976, where, led by an immaculate century from him, India made 406 for 4, is still India’s finest moment in a Test match. He made a shaky middle order look better than it was, in much the manner today’s openers make a good middle order look worse than it is.
Don’t forget either that through the mid-seventies and eighties the standard of bowling in world cricket was awesome. There will probably never be a greater collection of fast bowlers in Test cricket. West Indies could pick any of seven; Australia had Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Rodney Hogg and Len Pascoe; England had Bob Willis and Ian Botham; New Zealand had Richard Hadlee; and Pakistan had Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz. Opening the batting wasn’t the cleverest profession and maybe that is why nobody really stayed long enough with Gavaskar.
He played many innings to remember, including a half-century in 1971 that he rates among his best. I have one, though, that occupies a very special place in my mind. Not the 221, not the 96, not the 101 at Old Trafford in 1974, not the 188 in the Bicentennial Test at Lord’s (even though that should be compulsory viewing for anyone who wants to learn how to bat), not even the 236 in Madras. It is the century in Delhi in 1983 against a genuinely great West Indian fast bowling attack, when he pulled out the hook shot for only a day and got to the hundred from a mere 94 balls. That day was magic. There was no self-denial that day, the bowlers weren’t given the first hour and it wasn’t a middle-class man saving for his family.
He loved his numbers, and in course of time, like everyone else, he will be remembered by those. But they won’t tell you that Gavaskar made you proud to be Indian.
I picked up this article on Sunil Gavaskar written by Harsha Bhogle as the language used in the article takes us to the era of 70′s and 80′s where Indians on whole were very cautious in their outlook towards life. Mr. bhogale has given a very nice analogy of Indian public in 70′s investing their hard-earned money in government banks with the cautious mindset of INDIAN batsmen. I have not watched much of Gavaskar’s batting, but lots have been said and wriiten about his batting. Before Gavaskar, Indians were considered as push-overs especially when they travelled abroad. But, he along with kapil dev played the game in such way that it instilled self-confidence among the players of that era as well as for the players to follow.
Analysis of Words:Impressionable, Instill, Antagonist, Gullible, Defiant, Self-denial, Bicentennial, Hallmark, Trance, Stinging, Landmark.
1. Impressionable: (Adjective):
Easily influenced.
Capable of receiving an impression.
Synonyms: Receptive, Vulnerable, Ingenuous, Sensitive.
Usage: You should be careful with the words spoken in front of impressionable kids.
The writer has used this word in the same context. He was a young man when Gavaskar burst on the cricketing horizon with brilliant debut series and that influenced all the cricket-crazy youngsters during that time as before that Indian batsmen barring few of them were easily intimidated by fast bowlers. But he stood up to the challenge and succeded and that made people notice it.
2. Instill: (Verb)
To implant or place something.
To introduce by gradual or persistent efforts.
Usage: Moral values must be instilled in children by their parents in their early age.
These mocks trials are supposed to instill public confidence.
3. Defiant: (Adjective)
Marked by bold resistance or opposition to any challenge or authority.
Synonyms: Resisting, Rebellious, Daring, Bold, Hostile, Non-compliant, Dabangg.
Usage: The teacher was taken aback by the defiant behaviour of the students.
Despite the risk of suspension, the player remained defiant.
In the context, the word defiant has been used for the bold approach of Gavaskar not only when he batted but also how he conducted himself on the field. Till then, all the indian cricketers were meek but he changed the mindset.
4. Gullible: (Adjective)
One who can be easily deceived or cheated.
Lack of guile or worldly experience.
Synonyms: Trusting, naive, Innocent, Green, Unsophisticated, Wet behind ears.
Usage: Ram’s parent were reluctant to send him to another city as he was very gullible.
It is still astonishing that commission should have been so gullible as to have believed the corrupt officer.
In the context, the word “gullible has been used for Indian media, who believed everything whatever foreign media said.
5. Landmark: (Noun)
Of great importance or significance.
An event marking an important stage of development or a turning point in history.
A prominent identifying feature of a landscape.
A fixed marker, such as a concrete block, that indicates a boundary line.
A building or site with historical significance, especially one marked for preservation by a municipal or national government.
Synonyms: Watershed, Critical moment, Benchamrk, Milestone.
Usage: To celebrate this landmark, the company announced the new VDRS policy for employers.
It was a landmark judgement, which paved the way for future cases.
The bridge stood next to Museum which was another prominent landmark.
The word “landmark” has been used in the context for Gavaskar and Kapil Dev as their performances all around the world forced the people to stand up and notice it.
6. Apres him, it was le deluge:
This is a very famous French saying which means ” after me, the flood…….”
Sir roger bannister said this after he became the first human to break 4 minutes for a mile. And once roger achieved that feat, ,many other athletes have also done it and bettered it.
In the context, the author has used this saying to mean that after Sunil Gavaskar, new Indian players coming to the team had lots of self-belief and confidence. So, after him, it was deluge of self-esteem among the players and he was the one to instill it.
7. Stinging: (Adjective/Noun):
So sharp as to cause mental pain.
The wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging.
Derived from Sting (verb) which means: To cause to feel a sharp, smarting pain by or as if by pricking with a sharp point, To pierce or wound painfully with or as if with a sharp-pointed structure or organ.
Synonyms of Stinging: Acidic, Acerbic, Scathing, Mordant, Trenchant, Truculent, Vitriolic, Biting, Caustic.
Usage: He was deeply hurt by her stinging remarks.
The word has been used in the context for gavaskar. If he got out playing an extravagant shot or lofted shot, he would had to face the stinging words of his coach. He was taught to keep the ball on the ground, not look for fancy shots and singles were backbone of his batting. And also since he was the batsman around which the team’s batting revolved, he had to take that extra responsibility to score as well as preserve his wicket.
8. Hallmark: (Noun)
A mark indicating excellence or high quality.
A conspicuous feature or characetristic.
An outstanding or distinguishing feature.
(Engineering) an official series of marks, instituted by statute in 1300, and subsequently modified, stamped by the Guild of Goldsmiths.
Synonyms: Trademark, Indication, Emblem, Authentication, Certification.
Usage: A decent minimum wage is the hallmark of a civilized society.
Hallmark of a great batsman is to score in alien conditions.
9. Trance: (Noun)
A hypnotic or ecstatic state.
A semiconscious state, as between sleeping and waking.
Detachment from one’s physical surroundings, as in contemplation or daydreaming.
Synonyms: Reverie, Stupor, Spell, Daze, Dream.
Usage: Have you ever seen someone in a state of trance?
Some danced to the beat of trance music, while others chanted.
In the context, the word “trance” has been used to highlight the concentration powers of Gavaskar while batting. His concentration was so good that even if opposition sledged him, it did not bother him. He was totally immersed in watching the ball and playing it on its merit.
10. Impersonate: (Verb)
To assume the character or appearance of, especially fraudulently.
To imitate the appearance, voice, or manner of; mimic.
Synonyms: Imitate. Mimic, Enact, Ape out, Masquerade.
Usage: Rohan is a brilliant mimic who could impersonate most of russel peter’s accent.
She impersonated Indira gandhi in the play.
In the context, the word “impersonate” has been used for the Chennai pitch, the venue of his last test innings. It was such a pitch which did not resemble pitch. It was a dust-bowl. Generally in a test match, pitch on the fifth day due to wear and tear of five days gets cracked up or dusted. Most of the wear and tear takes place around bowler’s followthrough area but the centre area of the pitch still remains good. But that pitch was literally reduced to dust and was turning sharply.
11. Antagonist: (Noun)
One who opposes and contends against another.
The principal character in opposition to the protagonist or hero of a narrative or drama.
(Medicine) a drug that counteracts the effects of another drug.
Synonyms: Adversary, Opponent, Contender, Rival, Competitor.
Usage: Antagonist of the movie Dabangg is badly beaten by the protagonist, Chulbul Pandey.
A GnRH antagonist blocks the body’s ability to produce testosterone.
12. Bicentennial: (Adjective)
Happening once every 200 years.
Relating to a 200th anniversary.
Usage: The match played between Spain and France marked the bicentennial celebration of oldest football club in World.
13. Self-Denial: (Noun)
Sacrifice of one’s own desires or interests.
Synoynms: Abstinence, Self-abnegation, Renunciation, Selflessness, Asceticism.
The famous actor left all the riches and became a recluse; he led a life of self-denial.
The only way to pray without ceasing and to have maximum results in prayer is to be willing to practice self-denial where neccesary.
In the context, the word “self-denial” has been used for aggressive batsmanship of Gavaskar in that particular inning. He batted freely and met fire of West Indian pacers with aggression. He pulled, hooked, cut and brought out all the shots from his repertoire and unleashed it in that match. Generally, he used to bat in a very cautious manner as his downfall would rejuvenate the spirit of opposition. But in that match, he showed to the entire cricket fraternity that had he got more support from other Indian batsmen, he could have played more freely. He sacrificed the flair of his batting to lend more solidity as when you bat aggressively, there are more chances to score but more chances of getting out also.