With 10,000 runs, Gavaskar enters the history books

Dubbed the Indian “run machine” and the original “little master” Sunil Gavaskar elevated the country’s cricket with his batting proficiency and professionalism against the greatest of opponents, succeeding in the pre-helmet era against the West Indies fast bowlers of the 1970s and 1980s and the great Australian sides spearheaded by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.

March 7, 1987 though will be regarded as a special day in Indian cricket, when one of the most momentous landmarks in the game’s history was achieved — Gavaskar became the first to summit the cricketing Mt Everest of 10,000 career Test runs.

Face half-concealed under his Panama hat, the bat and the other gloved hand raised in jubilation as he scampered for a couple, led to a picture and a TV clip that will remain special for Indian fans forever. He knew he had conquered that special milestone the moment he connected a delectable late cut against off-spinner Ijaz Faqih to third man, running two.

Gavaskar, going into his 124th Test, needed 57 to complete 10,000, and for months the conversation in Indian cricket circles was only about his becoming the first to touch the magical five figures. That it came against India’s greatest rivals, Pakistan — it was the fourth Test of the series and Gavaskar would only play one more Test before announcing his retirement — with the rivals applauding made it all the more special for all.

Thousands of fans at dusty Ahmedabad rose to hail the achievement, with scores running on to the pitch and mobbing him. He had already surpassed Geoff Boycott’s world record for Test aggregate and Don Bradman’s world record for centuries (29) — Gavaskar finished on a then world record 34.

But 10,000 belonged to the highest league.

“Today we saw uncontrolled elation, did something snap at that moment?” the TV interviewer asked Gavaskar on the ground. “No, I thought, it is just the fact that, 10,000 runs is something which I never expected to score in my life. I think it is 9,000 runs too many. I would have been very happy with 1,000 runs in my Test career. This is 9,000 runs plus for me, so it is just a moment of sheer joy. I suppose there are moments when one can’t always control one’s emotions.”

By then it was old Gavaskar, in total control. But he was drained. “There was no mental preparation as such. It was only that I knew I had to get going, get some runs, give the side a start and then the required runs would come in. I just played as if I was opening in another Test. But I was very keen to get it done fast because it was really getting to me, everybody meeting me telling 10,000, 10,000. So I was really happy that is past now.”

It was almost the final act in a glorious career. At Bengaluru (then Bangalore) in the final Test of the series, he retired -- but only after producing a monumental 96 on a difficult pitch in India’s narrow defeat.