When Sunil Gavaskar’s 36* in 174 balls ‘shocked’ the cricket community at the World Cup | cricket.one

Sunil Gavaskar’s famous 36* from 174 balls against England (X.com)

In cricket history, there are some innings that stand out for their brilliance or controversy. One such innings is Sunil Gavaskar’s famous 36* off 174 balls against England in the 1975 World Cup, which was controversial because of his defensive approach in a format that required aggression.

Gavaskar, a legendary Indian opener, played this infamous innings at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. England, led by Mike Denness, set a formidable total of 334/4 in 60 overs, with Dennis Amiss scoring an impressive 137 off 147 balls, supported by half-centuries from Keith Fletcher and Chris Old.

India’s response was expected to be aggressive, but they adopted a cautious strategy from the start, unable to change gears. Gavaskar remained unbeaten till the end, with India finishing at 132-3, losing by 202 runs. His strike rate of 20.68 attracted much criticism.

Despite this, Gavaskar was India’s top scorer in the tournament, accumulating 113 runs at an average of 113, with a maximum score of 65*.

At 75, Gavaskar remains a revered figure in cricket, known for his prowess across all formats. He scored 3,092 runs in 108 ODIs, at an average of 35.13 with one century and 27 half-centuries.

Gavaskar’s innings against England was marked by extreme caution, favouring blocks and deliveries over scoring runs. His knock counted only one boundary, a stark contrast to the aggressive style required in ODIs. It remains a notable and controversial part of his career.