Sunny Days is a fascinating account of the growth of one of India's greatest batsman - one whose astonishing feats on the cricket field resulted innumerable records being rewritten and setting close to tiresome targets.

How did the story of Sunil Manohar Gavaskar begin? What was the genesis of the man who grew to be a legend in his own lifetime? The story starts with a baby being switched after birth - luckily restored by an eagle-eyed uncle; he grows up to almost break his mother's nose with a mighty hit (a childhood habit that persists in later life); plays good cricket in school and college; inevitably graduates beyond university and trophy cricket; is occasionally booed by the crowd, as his uncle happens to be a selector; and then bursts into the international cricket scene with his test debut at Port of Spain at the age of 21. The year 1971 is Gavaskar's year, and sunny days have finally begun for Indian cricket. By the end of the 1975-76 season, Gavaskar has played 147 first-class matches and amassed 11,574 runs and 38 hundreds. He has played 24 matches in eight Tests, with 2,123 runs and 8 hundreds. And there is still nearly a decade left before the glory days of the Kotla and Chidambaram stadiums.

A fluently written book with Gavaskar's usual self-effacing modesty imparting a rare grace, Sunny Days is a must-listen for all cricket fans.