Name Hindi: करसन घावरी / Gender Man
Karsan Ghavri – The Elite Cricketer from India
Born on February 27, 1951, in Rajkot, Gujarat, Karsan Devjibhai Ghavri is a legendary name in the arena of Indian cricket. He has given an enormous contribution to Indian cricket and left his own mark during his tenure as a cricketer.
Early Life & Career Initiation
Ghavri began his cricketing journey playing for Saurashtra (a western region in India) at the tender age of just 17 years old. Born into a humble background, his passion for cricket was nurtured from a very young age. With perseverance and sheer hard work, he displayed great potential and soon made waves in domestic cricket which led to him being called up for international duty by the Indian team.
The International Debut
Karsan Ghavri debuted for the Indian Cricket Team against England in 1974 at Delhi. His lethal fast-medium bowling technique coupled with significant ability with the bat helped him cement his place in the side.
Achievements and Legacy
Versatile Bowling Skill
In addition to his fast-bowling skills, Ghavri also had adeptness towards slow left-arm orthodox spin bowling. He possessed powerful stamina and diversity that often put opposing batsmen under pressure. He was one of those rare players who could bowl both seam and spin proficiently.
The Double Threat
Apart from his skillful bowling talent, Ghavri was also known for his batting prowess. His high point as a batsman came when he scored a remarkable 86 runs off just 93 balls in the Golden Jubilee Test, a match that was held against England in Bombay, 1980. This performance further solidified his reputation as an all-rounder cricketer.
Accomplishments
- Ghavri played a total of 39 Tests and 19 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India between 1974 and 1981.
- In Test matches, he took a total of 109 wickets with Best Bowling figures of 5/107.
- Nearing the end of his career, Ghavri had captured more than 500 wickets in first-class cricket – a grand feat indeed!
- An interesting fact about Ghavri is that he was the second Indian pace bowler to take 100 Test wickets after Kapil Dev.
Karsan Ghavri retired officially from international cricket in January 1981. He served as a selector for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), signifying another endeavor outside active cricketing. His journey portrays the story of dedication, hard work, skill mastery which inspire countless budding cricketers across India and beyond to date.
