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Hall of Fame - GR Viswanath
Hall of Fame: GR Viswanath

Among Test batsmen who have scored more than a handful of centuries, the only one who can claim that whenever he made a hundred his team either won, or the game was drawn, is a pocket-sized genius from Bangalore. Each of Gundappa Ranghnath Viswanath’s 14 Test centuries resulted in either an Indian victory or a draw. No wonder, instinctively in the 1970s fans prayed for a century from Vishy. The fact that a century from the other little master, Sunil Gavaskar, almost seemed pre-ordained, and not likely to require supplication before the almighty, may have had something to do with it too.

The debate raged while they played, and continues to this day, as to who was the better batsman: Vishy or his brother-in-law, Sunil Gavaskar? Those who would pick Sunny would be in for a bit of a surprise to learn that Sunny himself unequivocally states in his book “Idols” that Vishy was India’s best batsman of the 1970s. And since Sunny is not a proponent of false modesty, and does not make such statements lightly, that should end all arguments. But, needless to say, they continue.

What is indisputable is that Sunny and Vishy were very different sorts of geniuses. If Gavaskar inspired pride, Viswanath inspired joy. If Gavaskar provided security, Viswanath provided pleasure. If Gavaskar commanded awe, Viswanath commanded affection. One epitomized the rational, calculating, intellectual aspect of batting; the other the instinctive, spontaneous, emotional aspect. Yet no batsman can succeed over a decade and more without very organized thinking, superb technique, and an excellent temperament. So while highlighting their differences, one must not exaggerate them.

In fact Viswanath was every bit as good a technical batsman as Gavaskar. This could most easily be seen in the fact that neither speed, nor turn, nor bounce bothered him unduly. In fact the amount of time he seemed to posses playing the fastest of bowlers such as Thomson, Lillee, Pascoe, Roberts, Holding, Snow, Hadlee, Imran and others, shows that his batting technique was based on correct fundamentals allied to excellent temperament, and no small measure of steel. Even if in Vishy's case, the steel was discretely hidden in velvet gauntlets and a silken touch.

However, there can be no doubt that there was steel in Vishy’s batting, and nowhere was it as prominently displayed as in his wrist work. Vishwanath was the master of placing the ball at the last possible moment using steely wrists to guide the ball where the fielders were not. Thus, drives that started out identically could end up sending the ball racing past mid-off, or cover, cover point, point, or even third-man depending on where he wanted to place them. Similarly flicks on the leg side could go anywhere form mid wicket, to square leg, to long leg, to fine leg, depending on the field and his mood. The steel in his batting also manifested itself in the fact that though he played in one of the greatest eras for top class and hostile fast bowling without a helmet, elbow guards, and other protective equipment that is commonplace today, he almost always looked extremely comfortable.

One of Vishy’s greatest innings was played against a young Andy Roberts who was at his fastest on a first-day fresh pitch in Madras in 1974-75. In fact Roberts was so quick that he had trouble putting the brakes on after each delivery and his follow through nearly took him to hand-shaking distance from the batsmen. The batsmen, however, were in no mood to shake hands, unless it was a good-bye handshake, as they formed a sad procession which read 76-6 on the first day. At that point Vishy in the company of the plucky Karsan Ghavri, and tailenders Bedi and Chandra, added 114 runs, of which his contribution was an amazing 97 not out, remaining stranded a tantalizing three runs away from yet another century. His square cutting in that innings reached such sublime heights that Lloyd was forced to employ two third man fielders, and yet found them bisected and dissected with utter disdain. And if Roberts strayed on to the pads, he was flicked way with consummate ease. Although he did not get a century in this innings, it was nonetheless a match winning one as India went on to defeat the West Indies handily to square the five match series 2-2 going into the final match.

Viswanath had earlier announced his debut in Test cricket with a century against the visiting Australians. He scored a duck in his first knock, but in his second he scored 137, including exactly 100 runs scored via 25 exquisite boundaries, which according to one author, sparkled like fizz in a glass of champagne. Yes, Vishy inspired such romantic raves, even as a rookie!

Another of Vishy’s great knocks again came against the West Indies, this time in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1975-76 when India famously chased down 403 for victory in the 4th innings. That was one of the rare times Vishy and Sunny both scored 100s in the same innings. After Gavaskar provided the foundation, Vishy saw the team home to the highest winning score ever scored in the fourth innings in the entire 125 year history of test matches to date.

Yet another memorable century by Vishwanath was his 114 against Australia in Melbourne in 1980-81, where he set India up for a famous victory while Kapil Dev ran through the Australian batting for a paltry 83, chasing only 143 for victory. In that match Vishy's driving off the front and back foot against Lillee and Pascoe was an absolute treat to behold. So much time did he have to play them, they looked like medium-pacers against him instead of the genuinely quick and hostile bowlers they were. In fact, the Australians have been one of Vishy's favorite opponents. He has scored more Test runs against Australia than any Indian player. This fact alone attests to the quality of his batting.

But Viswanath was not limited to playing well against only certain teams. He was the first Indian player to score a 100 against every other Test playing country. He also holds the Indian record for most consecutive Test matches played. Once Vishy made it into the team he was never left out, until he was finally dropped after a disappointing tour of Pakistan in 1982-83, where he began to show signs of age and burn out. Not missing a single Test match in over a decade showed not only incredible consistency, but also how vital his role was in India’s batting lineup throughout his career.

Finally, any account of the man would be incomplete without recognizing his modest and essentially humorous nature. He was one to play pranks, but also took jokes played on him in the right spirit. And he could always see the funny side of things. Once when Gavaskar joined Viswanath at the end of the line of players being introduced to VIPs, after Sunny was replaced as fill-in captain (having captained one Test in place of an injured Bedi) Vishy, with an impish smile, queried “demoted?”

Vishy always displayed an innate sense of fair play, walking umpteen times when he knew he was out. However, one gesture in particular that won him praise was his recall of English wicket keeper Bob Taylor in the Jubilee match of 1980, when he withdrew an appeal for a catch, believing the ball to not have carried. This was to be Vishy’s second and last match as Captain. Now in retirement, he is a respected and well liked ICC Match Referee who brings his penchant for fair play to the job.

Gaurang
© Indian Cricket Fever

Cricinfo database on Gundappa Viswanath

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