Sunil Gavaskar - Cricket's Little Master by Debasish Datta is a glorious tribute to the original Little Master. Some of the cricketers, past and present, share their personal experiences of having played the game alongside or against Sunil Gavaskar.

The book released on the eve of Sunil Gavaskar's 60th birthday, is not really a book, according to Debasish, "but a bouquet of sorts. Each article is a floral tribute paid by people who have played with or against him and others who have known him closely.

It also contains two rare pieces by his father (Manohar Gavaskar) and mother (Meenal Gavaskar) who shaped the man we all love and revere. Each article throws new light on the living legend who continues to enthrall us with his wit, humour, knowledge and wisdom."

Former Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly firmly believes that Sunil Gavaskar is the last word in Indian cricket. "Cricket has produced many great cricketers who have quietly slipped out of our consciousness once they have finished their career. With Sunny bhai, it has been different, for he has seamlessly slipped into other roles after he hung up his boots He continues to enrich the game with his wisdom."

Asif Iqbal, who led Pakistan in six Tests, considered Sunil Gavaskar as the perfect batsman. "Among all my cricketing contemporaries, if I am ever asked to select the perfect batsman, it would have to be Sunil Gavaskar. Every time I played against him I was struck by the fact that there just did not seem to be a flaw in his batting from any point of view. If there is any such thing as technical perfection, Sunil embodied it."

Another former Pakistan captain, Hanif Mohammad rated Sunil Gavaskar as the best player of fast bowling. "As a batsman, he had great calibre; he is also an excellent human being. People say he is the best Indian batsman of all time. However, in my book, Gavaskar is the best batsman in the post-Bradman era. In his playing days, he used to talk, sleep, eat and dream cricket. Perhaps that is why he flourished as a batsman and later became a top-class writer and commentator."

One of the all-time great captains, Mike Brearley calls him a Technician Par Excellence. "Sunil Gavaskar is the best opening batsman I have seen in Test matches. He was better than Gordon Greenidge and Geoff Boycott. Sunny had perfect technique, good balance and was never rattled or made to look ungainly by the fast bowlers. Where he had the edge over Boycott is that he hardly ever allowed a half-volley to go unpunished. He was also remarkably good against short-pitched bowling."

According to Vivian Richards, one of the greatest cricket batsmen, Sunil Gavakar made the West Indian bowlers look ordinary. "Sunny has already been bestowed with immortality in the annals of cricket. Limitless patience, sheer determination and courage are not the only traits he has. His knowledge of the game is immense.

Most of the bowlers in international cricket would do anything to see the back of him. Sir Gary Sobers once said tht Sunny was the best batsman of the world. On moe than one occasion Don Bradman opined that Gavaskar was the best opening batsman in the world. All of us have to admit that Sunny Gavaskar is one of the finest batsmen in the world. Sunny's achievement is more creditable as he had to score so many runs and centuries as opening batsman, which I feel is the most difficult position to bat in."

The book, presented with care and attention to detail consistent with this publisher's high standards, deserves to be bought, read and pondered for the followers of the game.

Highly recommended, this is one cricket book you do not want to be without if you value your cricketing hero, Sunil Gavaskar.

An outstanding publication in all respects, with excellent photographs, the Sunil Gavaskar - Cricket's Little Master is a must for every cricket lover.