Sunil Gavaskar turns 63: A look back at the Glorious career

Sunil Manohar Gavaskar nicknamed, little master is celebrating his 63rd birthday today. Born on 10 July 1949, Sunil went on to become one of the greatest batsmen India ever produced and world ever saw.

He played 125 test matches in which he made a long time record of 34 centuries, which was ultimately broken by another Indian, and astonishingly by another little master, Sachin Tendulkar.

He was applauded for his technique and the way he stood against West Indies, having one of the fierce bowling attacks of that time. He has an average of 65.45 against them.

Sunil Gavaskar was the first man in cricket to make 10,000 runs in Test cricket.

On his Birthday here is a look back at the milestones he achieved in his 16 years of cricket career:

• Gavaskar was named India's Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1966
• Sunil Gavaskar made his test debut against West Indies on 6 March 1971.
• In March 1971 Gavaskar helped India to its first ever win over the West Indies by hitting the winning runs.
• He made 220 against West Indies in Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain on 13 April 1971. The match resulted in a draw.
• On 21 March 1971, he made his first century in the Third Test in Georgetown. He made 116.
• He scored 124 and 220 in the fifth Test, which helped India to its first ever, Test series victory over West Indies until 2006.
• He scored 774 runs with an average of 154.80 in this series.
• Sunil made his ODI debut on 13 July 1974 against England
• He made a world record streak of 106 Test appearances.
• In January 1976, Gavaskar wear the captain's cap of India for the first time in a Test match against New Zealand.
• He made 205 against West Indies in Wankhede Stadium, Bombay on 2 December 1978. Match resulted in a draw.
• He made 221 against England Kennington Oval, London on 4 September 1979. Match resulted in draw.
• Gavaskar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1980.
• He was also Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1980
• His highest score on Test match was 236 (Not out) against West Indies in M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Madras on 28 December 1983. It was a draw.
• His last and 34th Test Century was against Sri Lanka in Green Park, Kanpur on 21 December 1986. He made 176 in a draw match.
• He scored one ODI hundred making 103 against New Zealand in Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur on 31 October 1987. India went on to win that match.
• In December 1994, he was appointed the Sheriff of Mumbai for 1 year.
• He became the first Indian Cricketer to take over 100 catches in Tests
• Gavaskar equaled Don Bradman's world record when he made his 29th Test century in 94 balls.
• He scored 13 of his centuries against the formidable West Indies pace attack of 70's and 80's.
• International Cricket Council conducted an online poll in 2011 in Sunil was selected in All-time Greatest Test team.
• Sunil played his last Test match on 13 March 1987 against Pakistan.
• He played his last ODI on 5 November 1987 against England.

He has written four books on cricket:

1. Sunny Days (autobiography)
2. Idols
3. Runs n' Ruins
4. One-Day Wonders.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been named on him and Alan Border to honor them.