Courtesy: ICC
Sunil Gavaskar, who served India from 1971 to 1987, appeared in the Dressing Room show on Ten Sports Pakistan and recalled how former Pakistan captain Imran Khan helped him go par the 10000-run mark in red-ball cricket. Gavaskar did a magnificent job for India during the 1970s and 1980s. His diligence and tenacity helped Team India become a developed cricketing nation. In 1987, he broke into record books for becoming the first batter in Test cricket to reach 10000 runs.
As per Gavaskar, he was planning to bring curtains down to his international career in 1986 but Imran advised him to retire after India host Pakistan, who were scheduled to play five tests and six ODIs from February to March 1987. Gavaskar followed Imran’s advice and stayed active for one more year in international cricket. During the Test match between India and Pakistan played in Bengaluru in March 1987, Gavaskar reached the 10000-run milestone on his 124th Test.
“There will be many who’ll go past the (10,000-run mark), but like Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary are remembered for being the first to climb Mount Everest, the first to get to 10,000 runs will also be remembered. I got the opportunity to do so only because of one Imran Khan," said Gavaskar on the show.
Gavaskar launches acrimonious attack on England after their Lahore defeat against Afghanistan
Following England’s eight-run defeat against Afghanistan and elimination from the Champions Trophy 2025, Gavaskar launched a scathing attack on the English side. England skipper Jos Buttler had remarked Team India have an added advantage in the ongoing 50-over marquee event as the Men in Blue are playing all their games at one venue. Retorting to Buttler’s statement, Gavaskar said England are now adept at playing blame games instead of improving themselves to get desired results.
“They will still come and start moaning the next morning. See they cannot lose. If they lose there has to be an excuse and the excuse cannot be that they weren’t better that day or the other team was better, they will start blaming everything. They will start blaming India also because India are playing all their matches in Dubai and why are we not playing our matches at one venue,” said Gavaskar in his reply to England skipper Buttler.
