These are busy times for Sunil Gavaskar. Not long after returning from his media duties in England, he had to deliver the inaugural Dilip Sardesai Memorial Cricket Lecture at the Cricket Club of India last week. After that, another trip abroad. A couple of days in Mumbai and it's travel time again. This time, to spend his 60th birthday in Puttaparthi on July 10 where Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Babais based. Some devotee this and a long-standing one! When you step into the cabin of his Central Mumbai office, there is not a hint of a busy schedule a cool operator punching in words selectively on his sleek laptop.

He never fails to offer you a refreshment. This time, before we get talking, he wants to ensure his air conditioner doesn't affect the recording of the interview.

He's emphatic when you ask him questions relating to matters close to his heart. His laugh has an extra decibel level to it. It tells you that the batting great is in good spirits. However, Gavaskar doesn't give the impression that he is too excited about completing 60. At least he doesn't show it. And you can believe him when he says he hasn't had the time to reflect on his landmark birthday that he celebrates tomorrow.

Do you feel like a kid? His reply is straight, no-nonsensical. "No, I stopped feeling like a kid when I realised I've got to watch my sugar."

But completing 60 must mean something? Again, there is no playing to the gallery: "You don't think of yourself as five, 10, 20, 30. You just look forward to the day and thank the almighty for giving you the extra day and for being able to do what you enjoy doing and have family and friends around you. You have to give thanks for that."

The innings is off to a steady start as it were. It's time to get to the middle overs. He is informed about the type of interview we want from him and it will be a snappy affair. Gavaskar takes guard and plays fluently.u00a0