When a cold Old Trafford morning saw a young Indian opener rise through wind, rain and raw pace
We often reach for centuries when listing a batter's great knocks—the milestones, the milestones. But sometimes, a fifty built on pain, patience, and grit can speak far louder than any three-digit number ever could. For Sunil Gavaskar, that number was 57.
Not the 221 at The Oval. Not the 96 against PAK on a minefield. It was this knock at Old Trafford, Manchester, in 1971—under leaden skies, on a treacherous greentop, with the wind howling across the square—that became the turning point of his career.
As the 2025 Test series returns to Manchester for the fourth Test between England and India, it's fitting to revisit that summer morning over half a century ago. Inside the scorebook of the 1971 second Test is an innings that profoundly impacted Gavaskar's career and India's confidence in England.
Credit: Crictracker
After a hard-fought draw at Lord's, Ray Illingworth won the toss and chose to bat on his home ground. However, that decision seemed risky when Abid Ali, swinging with the breeze, struck three times in ten balls. England were 41 for 4 in no time. Rain cut short much of day one, but Illingworth and Peter Lever fought back vigorously with a gritty 168-run partnership for the eighth wicket, restoring the hosts to a total of 386 all out.
The pitch had some spice, and the clouds weren't clearing. India, stepping in to bat on the third morning, knew they faced a tough challenge. And it wasn't just England's pace attack. It was the biting Manchester cold, the freshly green surface, and an overhead drizzle that refused to lift. Gavaskar, just 22, chose not to wear a sweater – a superstition born in the Caribbean heat – and faced the storm with rolled-up sleeves and the determination of a prizefighter.
Credit: ESPN
Ashok Mankad was the first to go, edging Lever for 8. Then it was Gavaskar versus England, one ball at a time.
With Peter Lever and John Price streaming in, Gavaskar was tested like never before. Lever pitched it up, moving it both ways. Price, towering at 6'4", went short, cracking it off the seam and making the ball rear from just short of a length. The cold made the leather sting harder. The drizzle gave the ball wings. The outfield was damp, and the pitch lively. Yet, Gavaskar stood tall.
He refused to fish outside off. He ducked, swayed, jabbed, and jabbed again. A few hooks flew off the top edge, one too many for comfort. But he didn't retreat. He ground down the bowlers with compact footwork and a monk-like discipline. Every run was chiselled, not scored.
And slowly, a masterpiece in grit took shape.
Gavaskar's 57 wasn't the highest score in the match. It wasn't even the top score in India's first innings of 212 all out, where Eknath Solkar's 67 took the spotlight. But, as always, context is king.
His technique was scrutinised. His reflexes were pushed to the limit. His patience was tested by the relentless pace and weather conditions. Yet he stood firm until a short ball finally brushed his glove on the way to Alan Knott. Out for 57, but not before showing England—and himself—that he belonged.
India drew the Manchester Test but won their first Test series in England at The Oval thanks to Chandrasekhar's skills—a historic moment for Indian cricket. Behind this victory was Gavaskar's 57, an unflashy yet crucial innings. Gavaskar calls it the most satisfying of his career, as it inspired confidence in him and the Indian cricket team.
