Editing Sunil Gavaskar (section)

== Test debut ==

=== First test match win in West Indies ===
After missing the first Test due to nail infection,<ref name="Karhadkar">{{Cite web|last=Karhadkar|first=Amol|title=Sunil Gavaskar Test debut on this day 50 years ago|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/gavaskar-test-debut-port-of-spain-west-indies-1971-bombay-indian-cricket/article33997353.ece|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Sportstar|date=6 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Gavaskar scored 65 and 67 not out in the second Test in [[Queen's Park Oval|Port-of-Spain]], [[Trinidad]], hitting the winning runs which gave India its first-ever win over the West Indies.<ref name="Karhadkar"/>

=== First Test century and first series victory over West Indies ===
He followed this with his first century, 116 and 64* in the third Test in [[Providence Stadium|Georgetown, Guyana]], and 1 and 117* in the Fourth Test in [[Kensington Oval|Bridgetown]], Barbados. He returned to Trinidad for the fifth Test and scored 124 and 220 to help India to its first ever series victory over the West Indies, and the only one until 2006. His performance in the Test made him the second player after [[Doug Walters]] to score [[List of cricketers who have scored a double century and a century in the same Test match|a century and double century in the same match]] and remains the only Indian until date to achieve this [[List of cricketers who have scored centuries in both innings of a Test match|feat]]. He also became the first Indian to make four centuries in one Test series, the second Indian after [[Vijay Hazare]] to score [[List of cricketers who have scored centuries in both innings of a Test match|two centuries in the same Test]], and the third after Hazare and [[Polly Umrigar]] to score centuries in three consecutive innings. He was the first Indian to aggregate more than 700 runs in a series and until date remains the only Indian to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/282849.html|title=Test matches – Batting records – Most runs in a series|publisher=ESPN|work=Cricinfo|access-date=6 Mar 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330161333/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/282849.html|archive-date=30 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> This 774 runs at 154.80 also remains the most runs scored in a debut series by any batsman.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite book |title=ESPN Legends of Cricket |first=Geoff |last=Armstrong |year=2002 |publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]] |isbn=1-86508-836-6 }}</ref> Trinidad Calypso singer Lord Relator (Willard Harris) wrote a song in Gavaskar's honour, the "[[Gavaskar Calypso]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2519/25190240.htm |title=A legend in two lands |last=Lokapally |first=Vijay |date=11–17 May 2002 |work=[[Sportstar]]|access-date=8 June 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716165912/http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2519/25190240.htm |archive-date=16 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-16/edit-page/27991654_1_greatest-cricketers-brian-lara-calypso|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007041803/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-16/edit-page/27991654_1_greatest-cricketers-brian-lara-calypso|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 October 2013|title=Leader Article: Calypso Rules |last=Biswas |first=Soutik |date=16 June 2007 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=8 June 2009}}</ref>

=== England tour ===
Gavaskar's arrival in [[Indian cricket team in England in 1971|England in 1971]] for a three-Test series generated substantial publicity in light of his debut series. He was unable to maintain his performance, making only two half-centuries. He was involved in controversy when taking a quick single from the bowling of [[John Snow (cricketer)|John Snow]]. They collided, and Gavaskar fell over. Snow was charged with deliberately barging into Gavaskar and was suspended. Gavaskar's 144 runs at the low average of 24,<ref name="testlist">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1378/t_Batting_by_Season.html Test Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Sunny Gavaskar], CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 September 2008.</ref> led some to question Gavaskar's worthiness for international cricket.<ref name="ESPN"/>

=== England tour of India ===
In 1972–73, England toured India for a five-Test series, Gavaskar's first on home soil. He was ineffective in the first three Tests, accumulating only sixty runs in five innings as India took a 2–1 lead. He scored some runs in the final two Tests which India drew to complete consecutive series wins over England. His first home series was largely disappointing, aggregating 224 runs at 24.89.<ref name="testlist"/> His English critics were placated when India returned in 1974 and Gavaskar scored 101 and 58 in the second Test at [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]]. He managed 227 runs at 37.83 as India were whitewashed 3–0.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

=== West Indies tour ===
Gavaskar's [[West Indian cricket team in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1974–75|1974–75 series]] against the West Indies was interrupted, playing in only the First and fifth and final Test of the series against the West Indies. He scored 108 runs at 27, with an 86 bowled by [[Lance Gibbs]] at Bombay's Wankhede Stadium hosting the first test on this ground, the closest the Indian public got to see a century.<ref name="testlist"/> The Test was the start of a world record streak of 106 Test appearances.<ref name="ESPN"/>

The 1975–76 season saw three and four Test tours [[Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 1975–76|of New Zealand]] and [[Indian cricket team in the West Indies in 1975–76|the West Indies]], respectively. Gavaskar led India in a Test for the first time in January 1976 against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] during the First Test in [[Auckland]] when regular captain [[Bishen Bedi|Bishen Singh Bedi]] was suffering from a leg injury.<ref name="ESPN"/> Standing in despite having scored only 703 runs at 28.12 since his debut series, Gavaskar rewarded the selectors with 116 and 35*. As a result, India secured an eight-wicket victory. He ended the series with 266 runs at 66.33.<ref name="testlist"/> On the West Indian leg of the tour, Gavaskar scored consecutive centuries of 156 and 102 in the Second and Third Tests, both in [[Port of Spain]], [[Trinidad]]. These were his third and fourth centuries at the grounds. In the Third Test, his 102 helped India post 4/406 to set a world record for the highest winning fourth innings score. The Indians' mastery of the Caribbean spinners on a turning track reportedly led West Indian captain [[Clive Lloyd]] to vow that he would rely on pace alone in future Tests. Gavaskar totalled 390 runs at 55.71 for the series.<ref name="ESPN"/><ref name="testlist"/>

=== First home test century ===
Gavaskar was not to score a century on home soil until November 1976.<ref name="ESPN"/> In an eight-Test season, three and five against [[New Zealand cricket team in India in 1976–77|New Zealand]] and [[English cricket team in India and Sri Lanka in 1976–77|England]], respectively, Gavaskar scored centuries in the first and last Tests of the season. The first was 119 in front of his home crowd at the [[Wankhede Stadium]], helping India to a victory. Gavaskar scored another half-century in the Second Test to end the series with 259 at 43.16. In the First Test against England at [[Delhi]], he was mobbed upon becoming the first Indian to reach 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year.<ref name="ESPN"/> A steady series saw him finish with 394 runs at 39.4 with a century coming in the Fifth Test and two half-centuries.<ref name="testlist"/>

=== Tour of Australia ===
In [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 1977–78|1977–78 he toured Australia]], scoring three consecutive Test centuries (113, 127, 118) in the second innings of the first three Tests at [[Brisbane]], [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] and Melbourne, respectively. India won the third but lost the earlier two. He finished the Five Test series with 450 runs at 50, failing twice as India lost the final Test and the series 3–2.<ref name="testlist"/>

=== India Tour of Pakistan ===
[[Indian cricket team in Pakistan in 1978–79|1978–79 saw India tour Pakistan]] for the first series between the arch-rivals for 17 years. For the first time, Gavaskar faced Pakistani pace spearhead [[Imran Khan]], who described him as "The most compact batsman I've bowled to." Gavaskar scored 89 in the First Test and 97 in the Second, which India drew and lost, respectively. Gavaskar saved his best for the Third Test in [[Karachi]], scoring 111 and 137 in the Third, but was unable to prevent a defeat and series loss.<ref name="ESPN"/> His twin centuries made him the first Indian to score [[List of cricketers who have scored centuries in both innings of a Test match|two centuries in one Test]] on two occasions, and saw him pass [[Polly Umrigar|Umrigar]] as India's leading Test run-scorer. Gavaskar finished the series with 447 runs at 89.40.<ref name="testlist"/>