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Meet Our Dignitary

Sunil Gavaskar

India’s Cricket Legend

Chairman: Heart to Heart Foundation

Sunil Manohar Gavaskar (Marathi pronunciation: [suniːl ɡaːʋəskəɾ]) is an Indian cricket commentator and former captain of the national cricket team who represented India and Bombay from 1971 to 1987. Gavaskar is acknowledged as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time. His technique against fast bowling was particularly impressive, with a high average of 65.45 against the West Indies, who possessed a four-pronged fast bowling attack, widely regarded as the most vicious in Test history. Interestingly, most of Gavaskar’s centuries against the West Indies were scored when their four-pronged attack was not playing together1.

During his captaincy of the Indian team, Gavaskar led with an attacking style, resulting in India winning the 1984 Asia Cup and the World Championship of Cricket in 1985. His tenure saw multiple exchanges of captaincy between Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, with one change occurring just six months before Kapil led India to victory at the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Gavaskar also served as the Sheriff of Mumbai. He received the Indian sports honor of the Arjuna Award and the civilian honor of the Padma Bhushan. In 2009, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, and in 2012, he was awarded the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award—the highest honor bestowed by the Indian board on a former player12.