Today, as the cricketing world celebrates the birthday of Sunil Gavaskar, we remember not just the Little Master for the runs he scored, the bowlers he tamed, or the milestones he created, but for a remarkable act of courage that had nothing to do with cricket.
This is a story not many fans know. But once you read it, your respect for Gavaskar, the man, will rise far beyond his legendary cricketing stature.
1993: A City on Edge, and One Man’s Brave Stand
The year was 1993. Mumbai had just suffered a series of devastating bomb blasts, leaving the city deeply scarred. Fear gripped every street. Communal tension and riots became a daily headline. People stayed indoors. Trust was shattered.
It was during this uneasy time that Sunil Gavaskar found himself witnessing something from his terrace that would shake anyone to the core, a mob surrounding a taxi in the street below.
Inside the taxi was a terrified driver and his family, including children. The crowd looked angry, threatening. It was a volatile moment. And it could’ve ended in tragedy.
But Gavaskar didn’t just stand and watch.
Stepping Into Danger, Not Away From It
Instead of being a bystander, he made a decision, to act. He ran down the stairs, told a few close friends in his housing compound what he was about to do, and headed straight towards the mob.
He pleaded with the crowd to let the family go, but they didn’t listen. That’s when Gavaskar did the unthinkable, he put himself between the mob and the taxi and said, “If you want to harm them, you’ll have to go through me first.”
Soon after, his friends joined him, Bapu Nadkarni and Eknath Solkar, both renowned names in Indian cricket.
Seeing these cricketing giants standing united, the crowd fell silent. The anger defused. The taxi was allowed to pass. The family was safe.
A Hero On and Off the Field
We often talk about Gavaskar’s straight bat, his fearless batting against the West Indies, and his unmatched technique. But stories like these remind us: true greatness isn’t just about records. It’s about character.
On his birthday, let’s not just wish Sunil Gavaskar, but salute the bravery and humanity he showed that day in 1993 — the day The Little Master stood tall, not on a pitch, but for a family in danger.
Happy Birthday, Sunny G — cricket’s first superstar, and forever a hero.
