SMG : A Biography of Sunil Manohar Gavaskar

Contents: Preface. I. Advent: 1. The game, the land, the city. 2. Climbing the Ladder. 3. Bradmanesque beginning. 4. The Anglo-Australian experience. 5. A lineage to live up to. 6. From Manchester to London...and a lot in between. II. Ascent: 7. From strength to strength. 8. Two Titans, two tests. 9. Heir apparent. 10. The coronation and the coup. 11. Magnum opus at the oval. 12. The Amitabh Bachchan of Indian cricket. III. Achiever: 13. Trans Tasman tribulations. 14. In the firing line. 15. \'Imran\'ed...and demoted. 16. A pipe dream comes true. 17. \'Don\' to dusk. 18. A Seesaw Saga. IV. Apogee: 19. Generalissimo. 20. To open or not to open...21. Five-figure man. 22. Swansongs. V. All-Rounder: 23. Beyond the boundary. 24. The legend and his legacy. Sunil Gavaskar fact file. Bibliography and References. Index.

"Sunil Manohar Gavaskar or SMG as he is known--was the individual who taught Indian cricket to believe in itself.

An epitome of discipline, dedication and determination, her is a hero for millions, not only in India but the world over. He has been a mentor and trendsetter for those who are seeking to follow his footsteps on the cricket field and an inspiration for those who seek excellence in other walks of life. The fortitude and self-belief that enabled him to scale every conceivable peak in his chosen profession continues to inspire youngsters, SMG is a comprehensive account of the remarkable life of the greatest opening batsman in cricketing history. The book takes the readers through SMG\'s formative years, and subsequently, his battles for his country. It attempts to analyse the different facets of the man--his impeccable technique, his hunger for runs, his monumental concentration, his ups and downs,  and above all, his resilience in crises, on and off the field. From his being declared the \'Best Schoolboy Cricketer\' in 1966, to his record-breaking centuries, the book takes a close look at his achievements, many of which were unprecedented in cricketing history.

The teenaged prodigy of the 1960s has evolved into a Guru of the game in the new millennium. SMG maps SMG\'s life, from its middle-class beginnings, and proceeds to give readers an insight into the mindset and methods of a legend.

The author has been assisted in his endeavour by SMG\'s neighbours, friends, team-mates, opponents and fans." (jacket)