Original CricXZ career graphic — Sunil Gavaskar.

INDIA'S OPENING PIONEER

Sunil GavaskarCareer Stats, 13,214 Runs & Records

Former India opening batter and captain

Sunil Gavaskar scored 10,122 Test runs, became the first batter to reach 10,000 and retired with a then-record 34 Test centuries.

Opening batterIndiaRight-handedRetired

Player Information

Full nameSunil Manohar Gavaskar

Date of birth10 July 1949

BirthplaceBombay (now Mumbai), India

International teamIndia

RoleBatter

Batting styleRight-handed

Bowling styleRight-arm medium

International Career Stats

Test Career

Matches: 125
Runs: 10,122
Highest score: 236*
Batting average: 51.12
Centuries: 34
Fifties: 45
Catches: 108

ODI Career

Matches: 108
Runs: 3,092
Highest score: 103*
Batting average: 35.13
Centuries: 1
Fifties: 27
Catches: 22

International Totals

Matches: 233
Runs: 13,214
Centuries: 35
Fifties: 72
Catches: 130
Test captaincy: 47
Career: 1971–1987

Career statistics are final.

Gavaskar played his final international match in November 1987. The figures above were checked against ICC and established statistical records.

Facing elite pace attacks without a modern helmet for much of his career, Gavaskar built his reputation on judgement, concentration and compact technique. His record against the West Indies and his longevity redefined the possibilities for an Indian opening batter.

First Batter to Reach 10,000 Test Runs

Original CricXZ illustration of Gavaskar's historic 10,000-run milestone.

On 7 March 1987 in Ahmedabad, Gavaskar became the first batter in Test history to reach 10,000 runs. He achieved the landmark during his 124th Test against Pakistan, and play paused as the crowd celebrated the unprecedented milestone.

A Record-Breaking Debut and India's 1983 Triumph

Gavaskar scored 774 runs at an average of 154.80 during his debut Test series in the West Indies in 1971, still one of cricket's greatest debut campaigns. He later formed part of India's squad that won the 1983 World Cup.

International Debuts and Final Appearances

Test career

March 1971 – March 1987

Played 125 Tests, scored 10,122 runs and retired with a batting average of 51.12.

ODI career

July 1974 – November 1987

Completed a 108-match ODI career with 3,092 runs, one century and 27 fifties.

India captain

1976 – 1985

Led India in 47 Tests and captained the team to the 1985 World Championship of Cricket title.

Major Records & Achievements

10,122

Test runs

Became the first batter in history to cross 10,000 Test runs.

Test centuries

Retired holding the world record for most Test hundreds.

774

Debut-series runs

Dominated the West Indies across four Tests in 1971.

236*

Highest Test score

Made his career-best against the West Indies in Chennai.

Centuries vs West Indies

Produced a remarkable record against the era's dominant side.

100

Consecutive Tests

Became the first cricketer to appear in 100 successive Tests.

Honours and Legacy

2009

ICC Cricket Hall of Fame

Was inducted among the inaugural generation of Hall of Famers.

1983

World Cup champion

Was part of India's first men's ODI World Cup-winning squad.

1985

World Championship winner

Captained India to the title in Australia.

Legend

Opening-batting pioneer

Set the benchmark for generations of Indian Test openers.

Sources

CricXZ is an independent cricket publication and is not affiliated with the ICC, BCCI or any team.

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