On this day (July 10, 1949), the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, one of the best openers the cricket world ever witnessed, was born. His techniques, skill, compassion, and concentration on the field still today have no match.

The Mumbai-born genius made himself supreme in the art of defense. When the entire cricket universe feared to take on a prime West Indies, Gavaskar, 5 ft 5 in, without any sign of hesitation on his face, tackled the golden generation of West Indies. Bowlers like Gary Sobers, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, and Michael Holding delivered with pace and bounce, but Gavaskar replied with a straight bat. His cricketing shots were like they were fresh out of the pages of cricket textbooks.

Nowadays, cricket fans can only imagine how he used to bat against the best without a helmet throughout his entire career. In many interviews and podcasts, Gavaskar recalled those days facing the West Indies with minimal protective gear. Gavaskar, who is known as the 'Little Master,' often found his peak against the West Indies.

Read More: WATCH: Expert panel makes surprising changes in India's playing XI ahead of ENG vs IND third Test at Lord's

Gavaskar's love for West Indies 

His unbeaten 236 came against WI in Chennai in 1983; against England in 1979, the right-hander got 221, and another double hundred—220—was against the West Indies in 1971. Gavaskar's debut series for India was absolutely sensational. Against the West Indies in 1970-71, Sunil bagged four tests, four centuries, and 774 runs at an average of 154.

His love for the Caribbean was unmatchable. During his entire career, the batting icon made seven hundreds and averaged over 70 in 13 tests. Gavaskar played a total of 125 Tests for India to score a total of 10,122 with a batting average of 51.12, including thirty-four 100s. 

Legendary Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has called on Shubman Gill and the Indian team to take a short break following their defeat to England in the first Test at Headingley but made it clear that they must switch to intense, full-fledged practice immediately after. Gavaskar emphasized that the team should discard the idea of 'optional practice' and instead focus completely on preparations for the second Test at Edgbaston.

Speaking to Sony Sports, Gavaskar cited Cheteshwar Pujara's example to drive home his point. He explained how Pujara never backed away from training, even during optional sessions, and was often questioned by coaches for pushing himself. "Next couple of days you can take off, but now seriously get into practice. Leave this optional practice aside. You have come here to play for India. So, you practice in a way so that you will give yourself the best chance," he said.

"I mean Cheteshwar Pujara has been part of the optional team. I know when he opted to bat, there have been people who have said, 'What are you doing?' including the coaching staff. I have seen some of the coaching staff, not this one; Cheteshwar was not part of this team. they said, "Can't you have a break or something?" Gavaskar remarked, highlighting Pujara's unmatched work ethic.

Gavaskar recommends team changes for Edgbaston Test

The former skipper also suggested a few changes for the second Test starting on July 2 in Birmingham. He backed the inclusion of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in place of Shardul Thakur, citing the surface at Edgbaston that might offer slight assistance to spin. "Whether Jasprit Bumrah is fit or not, I think Kuldeep Yadav has to come into the team. I do believe that he should come into the team for Shardul Thakur," he said.

See Also: WATCH: Former cricketer hilariously recreates Rishabh Pant’s scoop shot in ongoing ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

Gavaskar added that further changes might be needed depending on how the second match goes. "If things don't go well in the second test, maybe Sai (Sudharsan) and Karun (Nair). I don't want to drop them at the moment. Then I'd also look at Washington (Sundar) so that it really gives you a more solid batting and also get a little more variety as far as the bowling is concerned."

While India has been fighting hard in Leeds to get a much-needed victory in Headingley, Cheteshwar Pujara, during his commentary work, expressed his admiration for England captain Ben Stokes. Pujara said that India needs someone like Stokes.

The talismanic all-rounder has so far experienced a successful career as a captain and as a regular player as well for his country. Despite struggling with injury issues multiple times throughout his career, Stokes restructured himself again and again to fit the international standards.

Before the ongoing 5-match Test series against India, the 34-year-old was sidelined due to a knee injury. He came back in competitive matches in the White through a one-off match against Zimbabwe, and then he prepared himself for the Headingley Test. Now, Stokes is in the field against India, looking sharp enough in all departments. In the second innings he took the wicket of Sai Sudharsan. With the bat, the southpaw scores 20 runs in the first inning.

Read More: Prithvi Shaw Set to Leave Mumbai, Gets NOC from MCA to Play for Another State Team

Bhogle and Gavaskar opined in the discussion as well 

Pujara, while doing his commentary jobs, said, "India needs a player like Ben Stokes, who can bat, bowl, and field." In reply, Harsha Bhogle reminded him of Ravindra Jadeja, now one of the most experienced cricketers in the current setup. Bhogle mentioned, "India has one in the form of Ravindra Jadeja in home conditions. But he is not the same in overseas matches."

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar tried to focus on the future aspect during this chat. Gavaskar has high hopes about Nitish Kumar Reddy. "India can look at Nitish Kumar Reddy. He is a good batter and scored a hundred in Australia. His bowling will only get better," he said. 

Rishabh Pant once again stole the spotlight with his second century of the match on Day 4 of the first Test against England at Headingley, becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batter in Test history to score twin hundreds in a single match. His flamboyant batting style and crowd-pleasing persona had fans eagerly waiting for a repeat of his now-iconic somersault celebration from the first innings.

Even former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was among those anticipating the flip. However, after reaching his century, Pant instead gestured toward Gavaskar, possibly indicating “some time later” in response to the subtle request for a celebration. The moment went viral, showing Pant interacting with the legend from the field while the crowd watched with anticipation.

Speaking after the day’s play on Sony Sports Network, Gavaskar expressed his happiness over Pant’s success. “Very, very happy. I mean, anytime an Indian does well, you feel very happy... So to see this young kid come back, I mean, look what had happened to him with all those, with that crash,” he said, referencing Pant’s remarkable comeback from injury. Gavaskar also spoke about the emotional impact cricket has on Indian families and how performances like Pant’s bring joy to millions.

Gavaskar’s Humour and Vaughan’s Curiosity

After scoring his second century, Pant unveiled a new gesture, pointing toward his eye instead of doing a somersault. This prompted former England captain Michael Vaughan to ask, “Can you explain what that celebration is? I was waiting for that flip as well.” Gavaskar responded, “No, this is, I think, basically thanking the gods above. He had something on his eye. He kind of put us on the signal.”

Watch the video here

Sunil Gavaskar asking Rishabh Pant to do Summersault celebration to which he replied next time for sure 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/mzCbugYDfT

— RP17 Gang™ (@RP17Gang) June 23, 2025

See Also: [WATCH] "Aise Yeh Zaroori Nahi Hai!": Rishabh Pant criticizes himself for reckless shot on Day 4 in ENG vs IND first Test

In a light-hearted moment, Gavaskar also shared a personal anecdote. “You know what, I've got to confess that after that I came here, and I tried not to do the backflip—no chance... but I used to do the backstand,” he said. “So if I could have done it successfully then, then I would have shown it here, but I wasn't able to.” Pant’s 118-run knock, combined with KL Rahul’s 137, helped India post 364 in their second innings, setting England a target of 371. At stumps, the hosts were 21/0, with Crawley and Duckett unbeaten on 12 and 9.

Kapil Dev has said he felt a bit surprised by the decision to rename the Pataudi Trophy as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He called the change “a little strange.” The trophy, given to the winner of the Test series between India and England in England, has now been renamed by the ECB to honour cricket legends James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar.

“It feels a little strange… like, does this also happen? But that’s okay, everything happens in cricket. In the end, it’s still the same game. What matters most is the cricket played on the field,” Kapil said at an event held by Three Sixty, where he was honoured for his famous 175 not out against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup.

The name change has also upset other former players, including Sunil Gavaskar, who called it “disturbing.” The Pataudi Trophy was started in 2007 and named after former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. His family has a strong connection with India-England cricket both he and his father, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, captained India and played county cricket in England.

Though the name of the trophy has changed, the Pataudi legacy will still be remembered. A special Pataudi Medal will be given to the winning team’s captain at the end of the series.

ALSO READ: ENG vs IND : 'We'll have plans to knock them over' - Brydan Carse says India still threat despite Kohli, Rohit retirements

June 18 also marks 42 years since Kapil Dev’s historic innings at Tunbridge Wells, where he scored an unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup. India were struggling at 17 for 5 when Kapil turned the game around with 16 fours and six sixes. His knock is still remembered as one of the best ever in one-day cricket and played a big role in India’s first World Cup win.

Only a couple of days left before the England vs. India 5-match Test series starts on Friday at Headingley, Leeds. Team India, with a newly formed squad and a young captain in Shubman Gill, will test their mettle in the English conditions, as legends like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin announced their retirements. With multiple young faces and overseas conditions, the Indian batting line-up can face some difficulties. But there is always a ray of hope. In the past, many Indian batters displayed their skills in England and marked their talents permanently. In the list of 5 best Indian batsmen in England, Virat Kohli finds his place here also. 

Check the list here:

1) Sachin Tendulkar:

The list definitely has to start with the legend Sachin Tendulkar. He played a total of 200 Tests, including 17 Tests in England from 1990 to 2011. Tendulkar's brilliance was reflected in England through his eight 50s and four 100s. In total, Tendulkar scored 1575 runs at an average of 54.31 in 30 innings in England. In his overall career, 'Master Blaster' bagged 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78. 

2) Rahul Dravid:

No matter what the conditions were, Rahul Dravid was there as 'The Wall.' The master of defense claimed 1376 runs at an average of 68.80 in 23 innings in England from 1996 to 2011. In this duration, the classical batter got six centuries and four half-centuries there in the Whites. 

Read More: SL vs BAN: Proving critics wrong Mushfiqur Rahim smashes century after 14 innings

3) Sunil Gavaskar:

When we are talking about legends and classical cricketers of Indian cricket, then the list will remain incomplete if we skip the stats of Sunil Gavaskar. He played 16 Tests from 1971 to 1986 in England and scored 1152 runs at an average of 41.14 after playing 28 innings. During this time span in England, the legend banked two hundred and eight half-centuries. 

4) Virat Kohli:

Virat Kohli, the legend and icon of modern-day cricket, ruled the cricket fields across the globe in whites before taking retirement. From 2014 to 2023, the right-handed batter played 17 Tests in England and scored 1096 runs from 33 innings with an average of 33.21, powered by two hundreds and five half-centuries. Overall, his batting average in this format settled at 46.85 with 30 hundreds and 31 fifties.

5) Dilip Vengsarkar:

One of the most underrated talents Indian cricket has ever seen. Vengsarkar, who took his batting to a different level, played 13 Tests in England from 1979 to 1990 and scored 960 runs at an average of 48.00 in 23 innings during this time. In those 13 Test matches, he generated four hundreds and as many half-centuries to show the skills he used to possess. 

On June 4, 2025, Bengaluru witnessed history as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed their first IPL title after an 18-year wait. The win ignited wild celebrations outside of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with thousands of fans and supporters coming to join in the celebrations. But the celebrations soon took a dark turn when there was a stampede near Gate 7, where 11 people were killed and dozens injured, including some teenagers.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was very saddened by the event, and he condoled the bereaved families. In his Mid-Day column, Gavaskar pondered how the long wait for RCB's first championship made the emotions of fans so much more heightened. He noted how if RCB had won in previous seasons, the celebrations would not have been so rabid. "If RCB had won the trophy in the initial years, there would not have been this flood of emotion," he said, pointing towards the special emotional frenzy in this victory.

"What a tragedy," Gavaskar lamented. “All those people wanted was a glimpse of the players… maybe even a quick photo with them. Haven’t we all been fans of someone before… and wanted to see them and have a brief hello?” He was admitting that fans had assembled innocently, anticipating these moments with their heroes, but regretting how a celebration that was full of joy was full of chaos and loss. He stressed that while passion is natural, it needs to be balanced with caution to avoid such heartbreaking outcomes.

The Need for Responsible Celebrations and Better Crowd Management

Gavaskar called on organizers, officials, and supporters to reflect on this disaster and make sure that future celebrations for sport would consider safe environments first. He stressed the responsibility to implement proper crowd control measures, discipline, and planning, and to avoid the stampede risk involved in large public gatherings. Gavaskar remarked, enthusiasm can be a peril unless it is managed.

Also Read: 'I deserve it...'.'—Shashank Singh opens up about incident where Shreyas Iyer scolded him for run out in Qualifier 2

This tragic episode serves as a powerful reminder that sporting triumphs, though joyous, must never come at the cost of human lives. As the cricketing community mourns the loss, Gavaskar’s reflections urge a shift towards safer, more structured celebrations that honor both the spirit of the game and the well-being of its fans.

The upcoming five-Test series between England and India is to mark the beginning of an era of cricketing competition with the launch of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. The series, which is to start on June 20 in Headingley, is to pay tribute to two contemporary greats—India's batting kingpin Sachin Tendulkar and England's greatest fast bowler James Anderson. This change is a break with the past since the series will no longer be contested for the Pataudi Trophy, which had been the emblem of India-England Tests in England since 2007.

The Pataudi Trophy was introduced to celebrate 75 years of Test cricket between the two countries and honored the legendary Pataudi family. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi both led India and have left a lasting mark on the game. The retirement of the Pataudi Trophy has evoked responses from all over the cricketing universe, especially from retired Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who has criticized the move as insensitive to the contributions of the Pataudis to cricket in both nations.

In spite of the controversy, the new Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy seeks to honor two icons who defined the contemporary age of Test cricket. Tendulkar, the record run-scorer in Tests with 15,921 runs, and Anderson, the leading fast bowler of all time with 704 wickets, played 14 Tests against each other. Anderson particularly bowled out Tendulkar nine times—the most by any bowler—which made their tussle a bookend saga of 21st-century cricket.

Tribute or Tradition: Trophy Renaming Debate

Sunil Gavaskar's criticism is part of a larger debate regarding cricket's changing attitude towards paying tribute to its icons. While the ECB and BCCI might consider the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy an apt tribute to two superstars of the game, there are people who consider the retirement of the Pataudi Trophy a decision that forgets greater historical context.

Also Read: 'I dont have a particular style..' - Shubman Gill comments on his desired style of captaincy ahead of England tour

Notably, this modification is following a similar pattern as England and New Zealand did by substituting their series name with the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy this year. As the supporters get ready to witness an intense series, the new trophy also lends an emotional and historic dimension to the matches to come.

In a recent interview, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has opened up a conversation in the lead-up to the eagerly awaited upcoming India vs. England Test series regarding the appointment of Shubman Gill as India's captain. Gavaskar spoke about the high-pressure situation of leading the national team and possibly getting Gill to understand that being captain brings different pressures in terms of being not only a teammate but also the captain. He mentioned that in the previous roles, a player may have been able to converse with a few teammates at a time, but as captain, you have to command respect from others, which means that your behavior is more important than an individual's results. 

Gavaskar's comments really encapsulate the difficulties Gill has as a somewhat inexperienced leader. Gavaskar did acknowledge the fact Gill may not have much experience in captaincy but also called the decision to pick the Indian team a brave decision by the selectors. "It is a great team, and it has been selected while keeping in mind that this is the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle, so you would want these players to play for the next two or more years. This is also a bold move because Shubman Gill doesn't have much experience as captain, but there are many other experienced players in the side like Jasprit Bumrah, Karun Nair, and Rishabh Pant, so it indeed is a very well-selected team." He added

Gavaskar's comments and his willingness to discuss captaincy to maintain the culture within the team bring with them a sense of optimism in how the team is structured. The selection committee decided to screen players with an eye towards the future, with the Test series against England being a key fixture in the World Test Championship, so they have picked the players they feel will be able to contribute over the coming years. Gavaskar taking responsibility for the selections reflects his faith in Gill to develop into the captaincy role if he reacts well to the pressures involved in captaincy.

A Bold Leadership Choice

The selectors must be feeling extremely bold picking Gill as captain considering he has little international leadership experience. Gavaskar feels that the returning experience of Bumrah, Nair, and Pant will help Gill take the captaincy in his stride. Those three players played in England as part of a larger group and could be at least consulted when Gill has to make decisions in the middle of a high-pressure Test week against a very good England side.

Also Read: [WATCH] Harry Brook’s one-handed stunner leaves Ben Stokes speechless in ENG vs ZIM one-off Test match

The India vs. England series will test Gill's effectiveness as captain and the performance of the team. It's an exciting time for him and the team as this World Test Championship cycle is just beginning, and the selection committee’s belief in Gill as a youthful captain with a strong supporting-player core signals a long-term commitment to Indian cricket. Gavaskar’s remarks highlight the importance of Gill’s ability to lead by example, fostering respect and unity within the team to kick off the championship cycle on a strong note.

Wisden, the cricketing authority, released its list of the top six greatest Indian Test batters of all time on May 12, 2025, in the aftermath of Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, sparking discussions among fans and analysts. The list recognizes India's illustrious Test cricket batting history and highlights players who have played a defining role in the format with their skill, tenacity, and remarkable achievements. With years of consistency and match-winning performances, each of the six batters stamped their mark in the shortest format of Test cricket everywhere they went.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

Leading the list is Sachin Tendulkar, with his 15,921 Test runs in 200 matches at an average of 53.78 that stand unrivalled. Wisden points to his unmatched consistency over a period of 24 years, although he never reached 500 runs in a series or 250 in an innings. Tendulkar's 51 centuries and his ability to overpower attacks across the globe seal his place as India's greatest Test batsman.

2. Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar, with 10,122 runs in 125 Tests, comes second, renowned for his technical wizardry against aggressive pace attacks of the 1970s and 80s. He was the first player to cross the 10,000-run barrier in Tests, an achievement recognized by the BCCI by naming a boardroom '10000 Gavaskar' on May 15, 2025. Gavaskar's 34 centuries and away performances make him an Indian batting trailblazer.

3. Rahul Dravid

Nicknamed 'The Wall,' Rahul Dravid is placed third with 13,288 runs in 164 Tests at an average of 52.31. His marathon innings, like the 270 against Pakistan in 2004, and his performances in India's overseas wins, like the 2001 Kolkata Test, are what set him apart as great. 36 centuries and his unflappable temperament saw him become unstoppable.

4. Virat Kohli

Who retired from Tests on May 12, 2025? He is fourth overall with 9,906 runs in 123 Tests, with 30 centuries. From 2016 to 2019, Kohli was at his peak, made seven double centuries, and was the top batsman in the ICC Test rankings. Kohli was instrumental in changing India's Test fortunes overseas and played an aggressive style of Test cricket and led India to overseas success.

Also Read: List of Mumbai players honored with named stands at Wankhede stadium

5. VVS Laxman

Fifth on the list is VVS Laxman, whose 281 in Kolkata against Australia in 2001 isfrequently consideredy India's greatest Test innings. Laxman scored 8,781 runs in 134 Tests, and his wristy class plagued bowlers, most notably Australia. Hisstandsd with Dravid, particularly in comeback victories, are legendary.

Virender Sehwag

Finally, Sehwag rounds out this list with 8,586 runs in 104 Tests, playing a fearless, attacking game. His 319 against Pakistan in 2008, plus two other triple-centuries, demonstrate his dominance and his ability to redefine the Test opening batting role. With an 82.23 strike rate, Sehwag added an extra dimension to India's game when it came to playing Tests.