Sunil Gavaskar became the first batsman in history to score 10,000 Test runs in March 1987 — completing a career of extraordinary technical excellence in which he faced some of the world's fastest bowling without a helmet in his early career.
Before Gavaskar, the idea of scoring 10,000 Test runs seemed impossible — the previous record was Geoff Boycott's 8,114. Gavaskar played from 1971 to 1987, beginning his Test career with scores of 65, 67 not out, 116, and 64 not out in his debut series against West Indies in their own backyard.
Gavaskar had been chasing the milestone for several years. By early 1987 he was in the late stages of his career — 37 years old, but still technically immaculate. The record fell during the Wills World Championship of Cricket.
Gavaskar's 10,000th run came in the 213th innings of his career, having batted in 124 Tests. He reached the milestone with a single — nudged into the leg side, unremarkable — but the entire ground in Ahmedabad stood.
His career total at retirement was 10,122 runs at 51.12 — a phenomenal average that reflects his technical mastery. He scored 34 centuries, including a run of four centuries in four consecutive Tests in 1978-79 against the West Indies.
Most remarkably: Gavaskar scored 774 runs in his debut Test series against West Indies in 1971 — against Roberts, Sobers, Gibbs — without a helmet. His debut remains the highest ever run-scoring performance in a first series.
Career debut series — 774 runs against West Indies in 1971
March 1987 — the 10,000th run, first batsman in history to reach the landmark
34 Test centuries — the record until Tendulkar surpassed it
1971
Test debut — 774 runs vs West Indies, first series
1978-79
Four Test centuries in four consecutive matches vs Pakistan
March 1987
10,000 Test runs — first batsman in history
Gavaskar retired in 1987. Tendulkar later surpassed all his records. Gavaskar has had a long second career as a commentator and administrator, widely respected for his analysis and integrity.
Gavaskar's 10,000 Test runs was the batting landmark that defined a generation — the first time any batsman had reached it, setting the standard that all subsequent great batsmen aimed for. His longevity and consistency across 16 years set the template for modern Test careers.
10,000 Test runs is now a standard benchmark for great batsmen — Tendulkar (15,921), Ponting (13,378), Kallis (13,289), Dravid (13,288), Lara (11,953), Chanderpaul (11,867), Border (11,174) have all surpassed it. Gavaskar is the reason the benchmark exists.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
The first tied Test in 86 years of cricket history — Australia and West Indies finished level on 737 runs each after five days of breathless cricket in Brisbane, producing one of the most dramatic finishes the game has ever seen.
India vs Australia
1986-09-22
Twenty-six years after Brisbane, cricket produced only its second tied Test — Dean Jones's heroic 210 through crippling heat and Dean Jones's fever, Ravi Shastri's unbeaten 48 and India needing 2 off the last over, only for Maninder Singh to be out lbw off the final ball.
Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
Lance Klusener smashed Australia to the brink of elimination, then ran out Allan Donald off the penultimate ball to tie the match — but Australia advanced to the final on superior run rate, ending South Africa's greatest World Cup campaign in devastating fashion.