For one so young, Vishy demonstrated exceptional maturity. It was a personal victory for him over Allan Connolly, who had him caught by Ian Redpath for 0, and other Australian bowlers. He was to play many such innings, even better than that, in his career.
His scintillating 113 at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai in 1972-73, which included a rare full-blooded hook off a Chris Old ball that landed in the swimming pool, had the Englishmen gasping. An impressed, delighted Tony Greig lifted the original Little Master of Indian cricket up in his long arms when he completed his hundred.
Vishy was at his vintage best throughout the 1974-1975 home series against the mighty West Indies. Gavaskar's absence in three Tests between the first and the fifth meant tremendous responsibility on Vishy's tiny but capable shoulders. He rose to the occasion and not just batted with the form of his life but also brought India tantalisingly close to a historic series win.
Having failed to play bigger knocks after looking perfectly set in the four innings at Bangalore (29 and 22) and Delhi (32 and 39), where India lost to go down 0-2 in the rubber, he made amends in Kolkata and Chennai and helped, along with our famed spinners, level the series. Following his 52 and 139 (23 fours) that enabled India to win by 85 runs, he played the innings of his lifetime at the Chepauk.
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The pitch was dicey and the ball was lifting dangerously and swinging crazily. Conditions, too, were tailor-made for the West Indian fast bowlers. Making most of all this, Andy Roberts fired on all cylinders and ripped up the already fragile Indian batting line-up. But the Little Master stood tall amid ruins, launched a spectacular counterattack and let loose a flurry of exquisite shots all round the wicket.
He was particularly severe on Roberts, the wrecker-in-chief, and played many rasping square-cuts and copybook drives on either side of the wicket. It was the best possible exhibition of the art of batting against fast bowling at its most hostile. Roberts, who finished with 7 for 64, could not even beat, let alone dismiss, Vishy, who remained unconquered on 97 when India's innings ended at 190. With 19, Ashok Mankad was the next highest scorer.
Vishy had clearly pushed Roberts in the background and it was magnanimous of Clive Lloyd to ask the Indian to take the lead when the players were coming off the field. The same Vishy dropped anchor in the second innings, which was the need of the hour, and scored an invaluable 46 in 235 minutes. India eventually won by 100 runs.
India had a good chance to win the series. But poor bowling and fielding in the decisive fifth Test in Mumbai let the Caribbeans off the hook. They scored 604 for 6 declared. India responded with 406 with Vishy contributing a splendid 95. India could still have saved the Test chasing an improbable target of 404 to win. But Vishy (17) failed and so did the other Indian batsmen.
Vishy played a timely attacking innings of 112 (run out), tearing the fiery Michael Holding to ribbons when bowling with the second new ball at a crucial juncture, to help India successfully chase the fourth innings victory target of 400-plus against the West Indies at Port of Spain in Trinidad after Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath had laid a solid foundation.
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