“Masor Tenga…That Is Delicious, Absolutely Delicious”: Sunil Gavaskar’s Food Recommendation for Assam
Former India cricket captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar had a special recommendation when asked what food visitors must try while in Assam — the state’s much-loved Masor Tenga.
Speaking at the launch of the inaugural Guwahati International Marathon, Gavaskar recalled his relationship with seafood and said he had been allergic to it earlier in his life, but fortunately discovered the allergy only after he had finished playing cricket.
With that no longer stopping him from enjoying seafood, Gavaskar singled out Assam’s tangy fish curry.
“When you arrive in Assam, there’s a tangy fish curry — Masor Tenga. That is delicious, absolutely delicious,” he said.
The former cricketer added that the taste of the dish had stayed with him even after returning to Mumbai.
“That fish stays with you even when you are in Mumbai,” Gavaskar said, recalling how he sometimes asks his wife to prepare something similar at home. He also had a message for the foreign host at the event, urging him to try Masor Tenga before leaving Assam.
Masor Tenga is one of Assam’s signature traditional dishes, known for its light and distinctly sour flavour. Usually served with steamed rice, the tanginess can come from ingredients such as tomato, ou tenga, thekera or lemon, depending on the preparation.
Gavaskar’s culinary endorsement came at an event that itself seeks to introduce Guwahati and Assam to a wider global audience.
The Guwahati International Marathon will make its debut on February 7, 2027, with around 12,000 participants from India and abroad expected to take part. The event was formally announced in Guwahati by Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma in the presence of Gavaskar and is being promoted by PMG Sports LLP.
The marathon will start and finish at the historic Judges Field, with the route passing through prominent locations including Gauhati University, Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu and IIT Guwahati.
The inaugural edition will feature five race categories — the 42.195-km Full Marathon, 21.097-km Half Marathon, 10-km Run, 5-km Run and 1.5-km Run.
The event carries a substantial ₹1.25-crore prize purse, with organisers expecting participation from elite athletes, professional runners, running clubs and fitness enthusiasts.
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu will serve as the Brand Ambassador of the Guwahati International Marathon.
Meanwhile, registration for the inaugural edition is scheduled to open on September 11, 2026.
As Guwahati prepares to welcome thousands of runners from across India and the world, Gavaskar’s message offered visitors another reason to experience Assam — not just through its landscapes and sporting events, but through its food, too.
