The match referee at tonight's IPL game between Deccan Chargers and King's XI Punjab was none other than Gundappa Viswanath. As I watched the toss, it was incredible how diminutive Viswanath looked standing beside Adam Gilchrist and Kumar Sangakkara! It was amazing how this little giant of Indian cricket took on the likes of Andy Roberts successfully time and again in the 70's.
I started following international cricket seriously immediately after India's landmark tours of West Indies and England in 1971. Tony Lewis's England were visiting in 1972-73 and their team included one Tony Greig, who happened to be 6'6" tall! Viswanath was barely 5'3"! The sight of Greig fielding at silly point when Viswanath was batting was positively hilarious. Vishy got into some form towards the end of the series with a hundred and a 75, but for me the innings of the series was a 97 not out by Keith Fletcher in a losing cause at Madras.
It was however in the 1975 home series against the West Indies that Vishy really came into his own. He was always known for his artistic shots, particularly the square and late cuts, and the flick through the on-side. But the remarkable thing about Vishwanath was that he was at his very best when the chips were down. Aside from the debut of Gordon Greenidge and Vivian Richards, that series came to be known as the battle between Andy Roberts and Gundappa Viswanath. After losing the first two test matches, India won the next two at Calcutta and Madras to level the series. Vishy got 52 & 139 at Calcutta and 97 not out & 46 at Madras. Vishy waged an epic battle with Roberts and Vanburn Holder, and his 97* at Madras was one of the best innings I have seen. He was at his artistic and fighting best.
Looking at Gundappa Viswanath tonight transported me back to the days of Gavaskar, Viswanath and the four great spinners. Thanks Vishy for those incredible memories!
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