Gavaskar is to cricket, what Sholay is to Bollywood: Veeru

As Sunil Gavaskar turned 66, former India cricket star Virender Sehwag paid a glowing tribute, saying what the batting legend did without wearing a helmet the best of batsmen today would not be able to do with all their equipment on.

"What Gavaskar did without a helmet, it's difficult for people these days to do with all equipment.If cricket were a film, Sunil Gavaskar is Sholay," Sehwag wrote on his Twitter handle.

To start with, the Nawab of Najafgarh said, "Happy Birthday to one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Sunny Paaji! Wish you a long and healthy life."

The first man to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket and the first player to score more than 30 centuries, Gavaskar was among the best batsmen in the world during his playing days.

He still holds the record for the most runs made in a debut Test series and the most Test centuries against the West Indies and is the only player to have scored a century and a double century in the same Test Match twice.

The BCCI called him the 'Rock of Gibraltar'.

"Here's wishing the legend, India's Rock of Gibraltar, Sunil Gavaskar a very happy birthday!"

Gavaskar represented India between 1971 and 1987 in which he played 125 Tests, and 108 ODIs. He scored 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12.

In 108 ODIs, he scored 3,092 runs at an average of 35.13, with just one century.