(1992) Bharatan R: On G R Vishwanath's 97no at Chepauk v WI 1974-5

"Class, class, sheer class" - Raju Bharatan (Excerpts) On G.R. Vishwanath's 97 not out v WI at Madras, 1974-75

(From : 1992 Indian Cricket)

Raj Singh Dungarpur saw G.R.Vishwanath play the knock of his life at the Chepauk in Madras. It was a series that turned out to tbe Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi's last for India as captain and, sadly, his batting had come to a pass where India's tail began at No.5 with Tiger. Sunil Gavaskar was injured and not in the team so that, when Pataudi fell lbw to Andy Roberts, the scoreboard grimly read : 41 for 4. It was in such a daunting setting that Raj Singh saw Vishwanath proceed to assert the blue blood in his batting with 97 not out.

"I dont think," said Raj Singh at the end of that exhibition of batsmanship in all its arts and graces, "I have seen a better innings from an Indian Test player. What a tragedy no one stayed a little longer with Vish to ensure that he got what would have been the most deserved hundred witnessed by me."

The critical consensus was that our spin had worked the oracle all over again. But the underlying truth was that it was Vishwanaths 97 not out and 46 that had carved out the victorious trail for our spinners. Only a West Indian could see this in perspective. Wrote Tony Cozier of that unbeaten 97:

"The sight of any fast bowler repeatedly beating the batsman with sheer speed is always an exciting phenomenon. For him to be confronted by a batsman equally hostile and belligerent is the stuff of which discerning cricket follower's dreams are made. As Vishwanath plundered Roberts with his team in desperate trouble after lunch, there was a memory of Ted Dexter playing a similar innings in a similar situation at Lord's in 1963 against the fury of Hall and Griffith. England's total then was meagre, as was India's now, but Dexter's 72 will always be talked about as one of the finest Test innings. So will Vishwanath's 97 not out, for he met force with force in an amazing display. This was the first time in the Tests that Roberts showed his true colours. He bowled genuinely fast, with judicious use of the bouncer, and the effect was devastating. His best ball, the sharp breakback, trapped Gaekwad and Pataudi. A wicked bouncer claimed Mankad. He sent Ghavri's middle-stump the distance only really fast bowlers can. Given this background, Vishwanath deserved a century, but the quality of his batsmanship was in no way diminished by the fact that he fell short by three runs."