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| Full name | Gundappa Ranganath Viswanath | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1949-02-12)12 February 1949 (age 76) Bhadravathi,Mysore State, India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Legbreak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 124) | 15 November 1969 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 30 January 1983 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 10) | 13 July 1974 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 2 June 1982 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:ESPNcricinfo,4 February 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gundappa Ranganath Viswanathpronunciationⓘ (born 12 February 1949) is a former Indiancricketer. Vishwanath is rated as one ofIndia's finest batsmen throughout the 1970s. Viswanath playedTest cricket for India from 1969 to 1983, making 91 appearances and scoring more than 6,000 runs. He also played inOne Day Internationals from 1974 to 1982, including theWorld Cups of1975 and1979.
At state level, he played forKarnataka (formerly Mysore) throughout his career. Viswanath, popularly nicknamed "Vishy", had an elegant and wristy batting style which emphasized timing rather than power. Though he had a complete repertoire of shots around the wicket, Viswanath's choice shot was the square cut, one he often used to great effect against fast bowlers. He regularly fielded at slip.
He is the only cricketer to score a doublecentury on debut in afirst-class match (against Andhra Pradesh in 1967) and a century on debut in a Test match.[2] In 2008, he received theC. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honourIndian board can bestow on a former player.[3]
On his Test match debut, Viswanath scored a century againstAustralia atKanpur in 1969 in a drawn match. He also recorded a duck in the same game, one of only four batsmen to have done this in their first match. Viswanath is the first and only player to score adouble century on first-class debut as well as a century on Test debut.[4] His best performances tended to come on challenging pitches, and while some of his best innings did not result in centuries, they were still important to the team's success.[5]
AgainstAustralia and theWest Indies, both known for their strong pace attacks, he had a batting average of over 50.[citation needed] He was at his peak in the mid-1970s. Against the West Indies atMadras in 1974–75 he scored 97 not out out of a total of 190 against a bowling attack containingAndy Roberts. Despite not being a century, it was regarded as one of the finest performances by an Indian[6] and it led to an Indian victory. TheWisden 100 ranked it the 38th best innings of all time, and the second best non-century.[7] He scored a match-winning century in the previous Test atCalcutta, but despite a 95 in the final Test atBombay the series was lost 3–2.[citation needed]
In 1975–76, Viswanath again produced some strong performances against the West Indies, the most notable of which was his 112 atPort of Spain which helped India to reach the victory target of 403. At the time, this was the highest successful run-chase in Test cricket.[8] In 1978–79 at Madras he again top scored with 124 out of a total of 255. India went on to win the match which ultimately led to a 1–0 series victory in the 6-match series, although this West Indian side was considerably weaker than in previous series after many players opted to play inWorld Series Cricket instead.[citation needed]
Viswanath also had a brief stint as the Indiancaptain in 1979–80. In the two Tests he captained, one was drawn and one was lost, the latter being the Golden Jubilee Test againstEngland. In this match he recalledBob Taylor to the crease after the umpire had already given him out. Taylor went on to score some vital runs for England helping them to win the match.[9]
In March 1978, Gundappa Viswanath married Kavita, the sister of teammateSunil Gavaskar.[10] They have a son named Daivik and live inBengaluru.[11][12]
Viswanath retired from Tests in 1983, and later served as amatch referee for theICC from 1999 to 2004. He was also the chairman of the national selection committee, and also served as the manager of the Indian cricket team. He is also involved in cricket coaching at theNational Cricket Academy (NCA) and has served as vice-president of theKarnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).[12]
On 12 March 2022, his autobiography titled 'Wrist Assured' was launched during the opening day of the second Test between India andSri Lanka in Bangalore. The book was unveiled by his former teammatesKapil Dev andSunil Gavaskar in a brief ceremony held during the dinner break of the day/night game.[13]
Viswanath was awardedCol. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 byBCCI which is one of the highest awards given in Indian cricket.[3] He also received the Padma Shri award by Government of India in 1971, andArjuna award in the year 1977–78.[14]
Sunil Gavaskar's brother-in-law, and even smaller than him at around 5ft 3in
... CK Nayudu lifetime achievement award, the highest honour the Indian board can bestow on a former player.
| Preceded by | Indian National Test Cricket Captain 1979/80 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Unknown | Chairman, Selection Committee Unknown – September 1996 | Succeeded by |
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