A century on debut: 4 Indian legends Prithvi Shaw would look to emulate

#4 Gundappa Viswanath

G.R. Viswanath - The Gentleman of Cricket

Tests – 91 Innings – 155- Runs – 6080 Avg – 42 – 100s -13 – 200s -1 – 50s- 35

G.R. Viswanath’s debut hundred was different in the sense that among the 15 Indian players, his hundred came in the second innings of the Kanpur Test against Australia in 1969. G.R. Viswanath’s Test career started disastrously when he got out for a duck in the first innings.

When he came out to bat in the second innings, India were battling to save the Test match. Viswanath scored a magnificent 137 and saved the Test match for India. That was the beginning of a distinguished career.

‘Vishy” was the artistic, elegant and enterprising Indian batsman of his era. His square cuts were legendary. Vishy was always a man to depend on in an hour of crisis. India did not lose a single Test match on the 14 occasions when he scored a hundred.

Vishy’s best innings came against the West Indies at Chennai in 1974. India batted first in this match on a surprisingly fast bouncy track. They were up against Roberts, Julien, Boyce, and Holder. India were reduced to 41 for 4. Vishwanath came to India’s rescue with an unbeaten 97 with 14 fours. The next highest score of the innings was 19. That day Viswanath made batting look easy on a difficult pitch where the other batsmen struggled to survive. Vishy was always at his best when batting against fast bowlers under pressure. It was one of the best innings ever played by an Indian batsman against the most feared bowling attack without wearing a helmet.

Viswanath contributed 46 in the second innings and India won the match by 100 runs.

G.R. Viswanath will always be remembered for his sportsmanship in calling back Bob Taylor in the Golden Jubilee Test in Mumbai in 1979. Taylor was wrongly given out by the umpire when the match was hanging in the balance. But Viswanath knew Taylor was not out and he called back the batsman to the crease. Taylor went on to add a record sixth-wicket stand of 171 with Ian Botham which titled the match in England’s favour. But Viswanath had no regrets.

Viswanath’s sporting gesture was one of the best you would ever see in a cricket field. Vishy was always a walker when he nicked one.

Prithvi Shaw should strive to emulate G.R. Viswanath’s courteous manners in a cricket field.

To sum up, being in the elite 15 club, Prithvi Shaw has a rich tradition of varying history to embrace.