If cricket were a film, Sunil Gavaskar is Sholay: Virender Sehwag wishes 'The Little Master' on his birthday

New Delhi: As Sunil Gavaskar turned 67, former India cricket star Virender Sehwag paid a glowing tribute, saying what the batting legend did without wearing a helmet the best of batsmen of this era would not be able to do with all their equipments on. “What Gavaskar did without helmet,its difficult for ppl these days to do with all equipments. If cricket were a film, Sunil Gavaskar is Sholay,” Sehwag wrote on his Twitter handle. To start with, the Nawab of Najafgarh said, “Happy Birthday to one of the greatest batsmen of all time,Sunny Paaji! Wish you a long and healthy life.”  

  Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who was often compared to Gavaskar during his playing years, thanked ‘The Little Master’ “for inspiring him over the years”.  

  The first man to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket and the first player to score more than 30 centuries, Gavaskar was among the best batsmen in the world during his playing days. He still holds the record for the most runs made in a debut Test series and the most Test centuries against the West Indies and is the only player to have scored a century and a double century in the same Test twice. The BCCI called him the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’.  

  Eminent sports journalist Ayaz Memon had a unique tribute to the legendary batsman, bringing a settlement in the ‘Gavaskar vs Tendulkar’ debate.  

  Cricket statisticians too, had a field day, given the number of milestones that Gavaskar had achieved during his illustrious career.  

  Gavaskar represented India between 1971 and 1987 in which he played 125 Tests and 108 ODIs. He scored 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12. In 108 ODIs, he scored 3,092 runs at an average of 35.13, with just one century. (With inputs from PTI)