Former India all-rounder Karsan Ghavri has shed light on the fierce and uncompromising personality of legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar, recalling how the batting maestro often did things strictly on his own terms. According to Ghavri, Gavaskar was so stubborn during his playing days that he could “get away with murder,” ignoring messages from the dressing room and batting exactly the way he wanted.

Gavaskar, widely regarded as India’s first true cricketing superstar, carried an aura unmatched in the 1970s and 80s. His leadership, discipline, and mental toughness earned him the reputation of being the undisputed “alpha” of Indian cricket long before the term became fashionable. Ghavri emphasised that Gavaskar’s influence was so immense that he could defy team instructions without repercussions.

One of the most talked-about incidents of Gavaskar’s career came during the 1975 World Cup. Chasing England’s mammoth total of 334, Gavaskar crawled to 36 runs off 174 balls, batting through all 60 overs. Ghavri recalled, “So many messages were sent from the dressing room asking him to accelerate or get out. But Sunil simply didn’t listen. He just kept playing out Tony Greig, Bob Willis, Geoff Arnold, and Chris Old. Later, he told us he was using the match as practice for future Test series.”

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The innings left the Indian dressing room in turmoil, but Sunil Gavaskar remained unfazed. When asked by the team manager to explain, he bluntly replied, “Leave me alone.” Such was the level of authority he commanded at the time.

Ghavri also narrated another fascinating anecdote, this time involving the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai. During a Test against Australia at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla, Desai came to meet both teams.

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While all players stepped out for the introduction, Sunil Gavaskar, already padded up and preparing to bat, refused to leave the dressing room. “He said he wouldn’t come. He went out, batted till tea, and scored runs. Later we learned the Prime Minister had specifically come to meet Gavaskar. But Sunil didn’t budge,” Ghavri revealed.

From 1971 to 1987, Gavaskar dominated world cricket with his unshakeable confidence, accumulating runs and setting records with his trademark grit. These stories, as shared by Ghavri, only reaffirm why Sunil Gavaskar is still revered—not just as a batsman, but as a cricketer who always lived life on his own terms.