It's Sunil Gavaskar's 74th birthday today, and he is one of the finest batsmen we have ever had.

Popularly known as the little master, Gavaskar was acknowledged as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time.

But just not for his batting he was also admired for his fast bowling technique.

He played for the Indian cricket team from 1971 to 1987 and achieved numerous records and accolades during his career.

Gavaskar has been known for his impeccable technique, mental strength, and ability to perform consistently against some of the toughest bowlers of his era.

He was particularly effective against fast bowlers and was renowned for his ability to play long innings and occupy the crease for extended periods of time.

During his career, Gavaskar scored a total of 10,122 runs in Test matches, becoming the first batsman to cross the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket. He held the record for the highest number of Test centuries (34) until it was surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar.

He also scored the highest runs (774) in a series as a debutant.

At times of crisis, especially when India needed a player to carry forward the match and save the game, it was Gavaskar who saved it,  both at home and abroad.

He was remarkable!

He played a pivotal role in India's historic series win against the West Indies in 1971, where he scored four centuries. He also performed exceptionally well in other challenging conditions, including his memorable 221 runs against England at The Oval in 1979.

No wonder, Gavaskar was truly a champ and one of the greatest batsmen of cricket who still inspire generations of cricketers and will continue to do so!