When Sunil Gavaskar turned a new chapter

India Today

7 hours ago

(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated January 15, 1971)Sunil Gavaskar, who made a spectacular entry into the arena of Test Cricket, has made his debut as an "author" with the same flourish. In the first instance, he took the world of cricket by storm and earned the admiration of all lovers of the game. I wish one could say the same thing about his maiden venture as an author.advertisementThe shy and modest 21-year-old Bombay university cricketer won the hearts of the West Indians and his own countrymen, not only by his prodigious feats with the bat, but his innate sense of sportsmanship and all that it implies. We see a different Gavaskar in the author of Sunny Days, which is his autobiography.The pity of it all is that Gavaskar himself recognizes that it is "always hazardous for an active cricketer to venture into the realm of authorship". And yet, he has not only chosen to open his mouth, but has put his foot into it!In the early chapters of the book one meets the Gavaskar, as before fame overtook him after his historic deeds in the West Indies in 1971. He takes his remarkable successes with the bat as a schoolboy and university cricketer in his stride, without being spoilt by his outstanding performances.
He accepts his failure to get into the Bombay Ranji Trophy team with a sense of fatalism, but there is no bitterness to unsettle his poise. There is, in his mental approach to his uneven cricketing career, a balance that one would hardly expect from a young player anxious to make the grade.When fortune finally smiles upon him and he is selected for the West Indies tour, his first thought is for his friend, Saeed Ahmed Hattea, who is left out. On his way to the Caribbean, he is the young cricketer, as yet unspoilt by success, finding everything and everybody wonderful - a kind word for "friend" and "foe" alike, and the capacity to see the funny side of things.Even his phenomenal successes in the West Indies left him unaffected, except that he was happy that he didn't "disappoint" the members of the Cricket Control Board's Selection Committee, which had placed confidence in him, and the vast legion of cricket lovers at home.The metamorphosis of Gavaskar begins, if one may see, when he is selected to tour England in the summer of 1971, soon after the team's triumphant return from the West Indies. A typical example of his penchant for unnecessary, often foolish, criticism of men and things is his comment about Lord's, which has always been regarded as the "Mecca of Cricket".advertisementHe says, "Quite frankly, I don't understand why cricketers are overawed by Lord's. The members are the stuffiest know-alls you can come across, and the ground is most uninspiring. It slopes from one end to the other. I shuddered to think of it as the Headquarters of Cricket!"In every sport, the decisions of the umpire or referee are not always palatable to the players concerned; but, very few sportsmen dispute the decisions, and more especially, come out with open criticism of the men assigned the difficult and unenviable task of supervising matches.Gavaskar, when he found the going difficult in England, particularly after his spectacular showing in the West Indies, started cribbing about umpiring decisions. He is particularly critical of England's umpire David Constant, about whom he says, "Umpire Constant was 'constant' in his support for England that year."The English Press has also come in for rough treatment at his hands, perhaps with some justification. However, the somewhat biased comments on the "London-based Indian journalists" during the unfortunate tour of 1974, are quite unnecessary. Even allowing for the fact that the Indian team had taken terrible punishment in the Tests, despite Gavaskar scoring a century in the Old Trafford match, it is difficult to understand why a cricketer of the stature of Gavaskar should have indulged in harsh criticism of anyone who dared to find fault with the team.advertisementIt is when Gavaskar talks about his visit to New Zealand and the West Indies early this year that he pulls no punches in giving expression to his views about people. For instance, he found the umpiring in New Zealand "was so partial that we thought we must have really played well to win the first Test".He adds, "but for the umpiring decisions we would have won the first Test by an innings. Also, we were denied victory in the second Test because of the bias shown by the umpires for the home team." Gavaskar's views on the New Zealand Press are equally unflattering.Perhaps, things were really bad on the New Zealand tour, which was made miserable because of the terribly cold weather. But, I wonder whether it is, at all, advisable for one actually in the game to indulge in this kind of criticism, and create enemies all over. What is particularly regrettable is that, in this present trend of umpire-baiting, Gavaskar's complaints may not find ready acceptance.advertisementThe most unfortunate part of Gavaskar's anxiety to find fault with all manner of things, is the criticism levelled against the spectators who came to watch the Test at Kingston (Jamaica). The provocation for this was the "way they shrieked and howled every time Holding bowled" Gavaskar makes this astounding statement: "All this proved beyond a shadow of doubt that these people still belonged to the jungles and forests, instead of a civilized country." Apart from being in bad taste, such sentiments cannot create friendliness among peoples, and cannot possibly be forgiven in a sportsman.Sunil Gavaskar has, with considerable justification, pointed out the peculiar behaviour of the then Cricket Control Board's President, K. M. Rungta, who asked for Gavaskar's explanation for his slow batting in the first World Cup match against England.The unkindest cut of all was the accusation that Gavaskar's batting "had a demoralizing effect on the younger players, and was also against the country's interest," as alleged by Manager G.S. Ramchand. One can sympathize with Gavaskar for the patiently foolish action of the Board President. The revelation also goes to show the hazards that Indian sportsmen face and the indignities to which they are subjected by over-zealous officials.advertisementHaving pointed out the more undesirable aspects of Sunny Days, let me say that the book is a commendable effort on the part of one who has no pretensions to being a "writer". Gavaskar's story is told in simple language, and is a sincere and honest effort to record his personal experiences as a cricketer and as a man. It is a reflection of the inherent honesty, however misguided at times, of Sunil Gavaskar.It is a book which everyone who loves the game will enjoy reading. The Publishers, who have "fathered" more books on Cricket in India than any other film, have reason to be proud of their "catch". The printing and get-up of the book are of good standard, and the large number of illustrations printed on art paper are an added attraction. Sunny Days is a book which will be read, whatever one may think about the tendency of Gavaskar to hit everyone and everything for a six, with interest.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- Ends