Sunil Gavaskar - Where does he sit in the Hall of Fame?

[fredfertang]

Sunil Gavaskar - Where does he sit in the Hall of Fame?

After Dave's controversial look at Sachin Tendulkar earlier this week Martin follows that by considering the legacy of another great Indian batsman.

 

[hang on]

very nicely written.

regarding the question, i would have gavaskar behind the following

bradman
tendulkar
lara
sobers
richards
brichards (generally do not include him in such lists)

on par with hutton, hobbs and hammond

and ahead of

chappell
miandad
border
kallis
ponting
waugh


admittedly, my opinion, especially about the last few does change once in a while.

 

[ganeshran]

Great player, though not in the top tier of batting legends - Don, Sachin and Lara

he had amazing consistency in an era dominated by fast bowlers. Very often the Indian batting lineup used to be so fragile that Sunny was the only resistance around.

 

[robelinda]

I would think he is below Wally Hammond- easily.

 

[The Sean]

Wonderful as always Fred, a great read.

 

[Cevno]

Another well written article.

Certainly among the top openers ever.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Certainly among the top 10 openers of all time but to try and put the likes of Greenidge, Gavaskar, Sutcliffe, Hobbs, Boycott etc... in an order would give me a headache and would probably lead to numerous arguments and bannings on here.

I would say he is the 2nd best Indian batsman behind Tendulkar with Dravid fractionally behind in 3rd. Not a lot to choose between them though and all are brilliant players.

Those who are old enough to have seen him are priveliged to have seen a wonderful player in action.

 

[Ikki]

and ahead of

chappell
miandad
border
kallis
ponting
waugh

admittedly, my opinion, especially about the last few does change once in a while.

Personally, would have him also behind all those guys bar Miandad.

 

[Sanz]

Having watched Gavaskar bat for years and all those who have come since him, I will comfortably put him ahead of every batsman I have watched.

 

[ankitj]

Was watching highlights of this ODI yesterday on a sports channel. Gavaskar could surely whack the ball well. Short innings but hit all his 4 boundaries and 1 six lofting over the infield much like how modern day openers play.

 

[ankitj]

Personally, would have him also behind all those guys bar Miandad.

Curious if you still put Gavaskar below Hayden as you said in some of your old posts in the other thread.

 

[Ikki]

Curious if you still put Gavaskar below Hayden as you said in some of your old posts in the other thread.

Yes, but to be honest I've revised my opinion of that some way. I'd accept that most people would pick Gavaskar over Hayden but I've said when I pick my XIs I'd pick Hayden for his approach as I don't think Gavaskar's snail's pace attitude will add to my side, even if he will score more runs. And that's not just because I am biased towards Hayden, I'd pick Sehwag before Gavaskar in my XI too. But, like Hayden, I acknowledge that people will think Gavaskar was better than Sehwag. It's why I didn't really blink when Chappell picked Sehwag in his all-time XI as that is pretty much my own logic - domination from the off-set.

That logic doesn't extend much to my statement re Gavaskar and the list of batsmen here. I just think they were better than Gavaskar.

Would put them like this: Chappell > Ponting > Waugh > Border > Kallis > Gavaskar > Miandad.

 

[kyear2]

Dont always think thats it fair to compare to compare opeing batsmen to middle order ones, but I rank Gavaskar as an opener only behind Hutton, and on par with Hobbs. As far as mid order bats go he is behind (by country) Bradman, Chappell, Headley, Richards, Sobers, Lara, Hammond, Pollock and Tendulkar. Just ahead of Border, 3W'S, Barrington Dravid ect

 

[The Sean]

Dont always think thats it fair to compare to compare opeing batsmen to middle order ones, but I rank Gavaskar as an opener only behind Hammond, and on par with Hobbs. As far as mid order bats go he is behind (by country) Bradman, Chappell, Headley, Richards, Sobers, Lara, Hammond, Pollock and Tendulkar. Just ahead of Border, 3W'S, Barrington Dravid ect

Hutton?

 

[sumantra]

definitely among the top 10 batsmen ever played the game (including openers and middle orders)

 

[Dissector]

One point that is worth noting: Gavaskar didn't face a single test-class fast bowler while playing domestic cricket as a young man. Probably very few pace bowlers who were even first-class material. That is a pretty huge handicap for any opening batsman given the quality of fast bowling he had to face his entire test career.

 

[SJS]

Sunil Gavaskar - Where does he sit in the Hall of Fame?

Between Ravi Shastri and Harsha Bhogle I guess

 

[centurymaker]

lol

 

[kyear2]

Hutton?

Of course, thanks.

 

[smash84]

Sunil Gavaskar - Where does he sit in the Hall of Fame?

Between Ravi Shastri and Harsha Bhogle I guess