SMG  -  A Biography of Sunil Manohar Gavaskar

SMG - A Biography of Sunil Manohar Gavaskar

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Author: Devendra Prabhudesai
Publisher: Rupa
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 537
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788129114600

Description

Sunil Manohar Gavaskar - or SMG as he is known-was the individual who taught Indian cricket to believe in itself.

An epitome of discipline, dedication and determination, he is a hero for millions, not only in India but the world over. He has been a mentor and trendsetter for those who are seeking to follow his footsteps on the cricket field and an inspiration for those who seek excellence in other walks of life. The fortitude and self-belief that enabled him to scale every conceivable peak in his chosen profession continues to inspire youngsters.

SMG is a comprehensive account of the remarkable life of the greatest opening batsman in cricketing history. The book takes the readers through SMG’s formative years, and subsequently, his battles for his country. It attempts to analyze the different facets of the man – his impeccable technique, his hunger for runs, his monumental concentration, his ups and downs, and above all, his resilience in crises, on and off the field. From his being declared the ‘Best Schoolboy Cricketer’ in 1966, to his record-breaking centuries, the book takes a close look at his achievements, many of which were unprecedented in cricketing history.

The teenaged prodigy of the 1960s has evolved into a Guru of the game in the new millennium. SMG maps Gavaskar’s life from its middle-class beginnings, and proceeds to give readers an insight into the mindset and methods of a legend.

The author has been assisted in his endeavour by SMG’s neighbours, friends, team-mates, opponents and fans.


COMMENTS

‘Of all his qualities, the one that stands out is GUTS. He opened the batting in more than a hundred Tests, against the fastest of bowlers, and had the better of them. The combination of guts, concentration discipline and dedication made him the all-time great that he is.’
- SACHIN TENDULKAR

‘I never made a conscious effort to imitate him in technical terms. But what I and many others did was strive to emulate his other attributes – concentration, the will to bat for long periods, picking the right deliveries to leave, and of course, consistency.’
- RAHUL DRAVID

‘He did not have an inferiority complex, and considered himself at par with the others. People noticed Indian cricket because of him and his records.’
- V.V.S. LAXMAN

Contents

Acknowledgements
Preface

ADVENT
1. The Game, the Land, the City
2. Climbing the Ladder
3. Bradmanesque Beginning
4. The Anglo-Australian Experience
5. A Lineage to Live Up to
6. From Manchester to London…And a Lot in Between

ASCENT
7. From Strength to Strength
8. Two Titans, Two Tests
9. Heir-Apparent
10. The Coronation and the Coup
11. Magnum Opus at the Oval
12. The Amitabh Bachchan of Indian Cricket

ACHIEVER
13. Trans-Tasman tribulations
14. In the Firing Line
15. ‘Imran’ed…and Demoted
16. A Pipe Dream Comes True
17. ‘Don’ to Dusk
18. A Seesaw Saga

APOGEE
19. Generalissimo
20. To Open or Not to Open
21. Five-figure Man
22. Swansongs

ALL-Rounder
23. Beyond the Boundary
24. The Legend and his legacy

Sunil Gavaskar Fact File
Bibliography and References
Index