The key to growth in any field must be reserves of concentration that an individual possesses. The paragon of concentration in Indian cricket, former captain and opener Sunil Gavaskar, showed the value of this quality on many occasions around the world. Sadly, I have never been witness to his methodical batting as far as live action goes. From my limited knowledge of his innings spread across the 1970s and 1980s, his 121 off 128 balls against the West Indies at Kotla in October 1983 holds a special place in the heart. The West Indies were certainly at their prime in Test Cricket during that period if you go through the record books.
Sunny Paaji stood tall against the likes of Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Winston Davis and Wayne Daniel and played some exquisite drives and other shots en route his 29th hundred (then joint highest along with Sir Donald Bradman) off just 94 balls. Marshall bowled a lot from around the wicket and Gavaskar had his pulls and hooks ready to the recipe on offer. It was also Sunny's 12th hundred against the West Indies, a staggering 41.38 % of his centuries' tally till then. He himself has always rated his century against England at Old Trafford in 1974 as his best effort. However, the 29th one was special for the fans because of the fact that it equalled a Test record that day and the former India captain was probably entering the last phase of his batting career. Dilip Vengsarkar was an able ally to Sunny Paaji as he mustered a dogged 159 to help India to a first innings score of 464 in what was the second Test of the home series against the aforementioned opponents in the winter of 83-84.
The nearby ruins of Ferozeshah Kotla also houses a fine specimen of Indian metallurgy, i.e., the Iron Pillar which was brought here from neighbouring Meerut in the 14th century by Ferozeshah Tughlaq. It has been witness to many turns in history apart from the small matter of being witness to some great cricketing moments which include the most Test centuries record milestone achieved by Sunil Gavaskar in 1983, and then by Sachin Tendulkar in 2005.
Sunny Paaji stood tall against the likes of Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Winston Davis and Wayne Daniel and played some exquisite drives and other shots en route his 29th hundred (then joint highest along with Sir Donald Bradman) off just 94 balls. Marshall bowled a lot from around the wicket and Gavaskar had his pulls and hooks ready to the recipe on offer. It was also Sunny's 12th hundred against the West Indies, a staggering 41.38 % of his centuries' tally till then. He himself has always rated his century against England at Old Trafford in 1974 as his best effort. However, the 29th one was special for the fans because of the fact that it equalled a Test record that day and the former India captain was probably entering the last phase of his batting career. Dilip Vengsarkar was an able ally to Sunny Paaji as he mustered a dogged 159 to help India to a first innings score of 464 in what was the second Test of the home series against the aforementioned opponents in the winter of 83-84.
The nearby ruins of Ferozeshah Kotla also houses a fine specimen of Indian metallurgy, i.e., the Iron Pillar which was brought here from neighbouring Meerut in the 14th century by Ferozeshah Tughlaq. It has been witness to many turns in history apart from the small matter of being witness to some great cricketing moments which include the most Test centuries record milestone achieved by Sunil Gavaskar in 1983, and then by Sachin Tendulkar in 2005.
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