Sunil Gavaskar, one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, made a sensational debut in Test cricket during India’s historic tour of the West Indies in 1971. He scored an astounding 774 runs in just four matches, which remains the most runs by any batsman in their debut Test series.
Opposition: West Indies
Matches Played: 4 (Missed 1st Test due to injury)
Runs Scored: 774
Batting Average: 154.80
Centuries: 4
Half-Centuries: 3
Highest Score: 220
Venue: West Indies (Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, Barbados)
India won the series 1-0 (first-ever series win against West Indies).
1st Innings: 65
2nd Innings: 67*
India won by 7 wickets
1st Innings: 116
2nd Innings: 64*
Match drawn
1st Innings: 1
2nd Innings: 117
Match drawn
1st Innings: 124
2nd Innings: 220
Match drawn
Most Runs in a Debut Test Series (774 runs) – still an unbroken record.
Four centuries in debut series – a rare feat in cricket history.
First Indian batsman to score a double century against the West Indies (220 in Jamaica).
First-ever Test series win for India against the West Indies.
Youngest Indian (21 years) to score 700+ runs in a Test series.
Only batsman to score over 700 runs in a series against the West Indies.
India’s victory over the mighty West Indies was a historic moment in Indian cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar’s legendary performance announced his arrival as a world-class batsman.
He became India’s batting mainstay for the next 16 years.
His fearless batting against fast bowlers like Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith, and Garry Sobers earned him great respect.
Gavaskar went on to become India’s first batsman to score 10,000 Test runs and remains one of the greatest openers of all time. His 774-run debut series is still a benchmark for any young cricketer making their Test debut.
