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Amazing grace

Under his hands, cricket became a celebration of grace, with wrist, arms and feet doing what strength often couldn't, when Science, subdued, paid obeisance to Art. There couldn't have been a better to keep the scorer on his toes. But there were a few innings that G R Viswanath stepped outside himself, when his greatness showed through. Here we have listed the six innings that were the pick of his career and one that was his swan song. But it would be absurd for us to claim that mere words can capture the ineffable charm of his game:

1969-70 vs Australia, Kanpur:

Captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi insisted that Viswanath be in the side though the chairman of the selectors, Vijay Merchant, had not seen him play yet. And when Vishy was caught out for a duck off paceman Alan Connolly off bat and pad, it appeared that Pataudi's instinct for spotting talent had failed him.

But then came the second inning and Vishy took charge, scoring a brilliant 137, with no less than 25 boundaries. It had the Green Park spectators in raptures. The star-studded Australian attack of Connolly, Graham McKenzie, and spinners John Gleeson and Ashley Mallett were thoroughly frustrated as Viswanath batted on for 354 minutes to become the then highest individual scorer in a home Test against the Aussies.

He proved that he was no flash in the pan, scoring two half-centuries further down the series. India had a new star.

1972-73 vs England, Bombay:

It took Viswanath three years to score another hundred after that cold November day, this time against Tony Lewis's Englishmen. India led in the rubber 2-1. This time the century came in the first inning itself, against the likes of Geoff Arnold. Chris Old, Derek Underwood, Tony Greig and Pat Pocock. With it, Viswanath became the first Indian to score another hundred after making a century on debut.

Greig must have become a great Viswanath fan through the inning, and when he got to his hundred, he lifted the little man and rocked him like a baby. That hundred was the last to be scored at the Brabourne stadium. Thereafter, cricket in Bombay shifted to the Wankhede stadium.

1974-75 vs WI at Madras:

Arguably, the best innings he ever played. The Indian camp was in tatters and the West Indies were already 2-1 ahead in the series. When Vishy walked the scoreboard read 2 for 24. And he had little to expect from the other end, not with Andy Roberts tearing through the batting, repeatedly slinging those wads of cork and whizzing leather.

Didn't work against Viswanath. At regular intervals, Vishy would lean backwards and slide the willow gently over the ball. And thus caressed, the ball joyously romped away to the fence. Time and again, his square cuts has fielders uncertain whether to watch enraptured or retrieve the ball. Even the experienced Lloyd finally wondered where he could place his fielders, finally settling for two men on the third man boundary. Nothing, but nothing, could dim his brilliance that balmy day. Except for the other end that wilted away, shedding wickets, in the face of the black blitzkrieg. Vishy couldn't even make his hundred, because B S Chandrashekhar could not hold up the other end.

In his book Idols, Sunil Gavaskar described the game thus: 'His (Vishy's) 97 not out is the finest Test matches innings I was privileged to see. That attack is the best form of defence was amply proved in this inning.' India won the match, squaring the series with one match to go in Bombay.

1975-76 vs West Indies, Trinidad:

It is only fitting that one of India's most memorable victories was made possible by the two icons of Indian cricket, Gavaskar and Viswanath.

Set to score 403 for victory, the Indians had a tough task, but made it due to a strong batting line-up that included Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, Viswanath and Brijesh Patel.

Viswanath came in after Gavaskar was despatched for 102. Along with Mohinder and later Karnataka mate Patel, he made an impossible target possible. Only a run out through a misunderstanding with Mohinder blotted his copybook. But the game was already out of the Windies's hands. That was his first ton abroad.

1980-81 vs Australia, Melbourne:

Another Vishy century, another victory. He had the knack of scoring hundreds that won games.

Of course, this Test was actually won by Kapil Dev's amazing 5 for 28 which saw Australia skittled out for 83.

But on a conducive track, there were few in the Indian first innings who could cope with Dennis Lillee and Len Pascoe on the rampage.

The highest score, 114, was that of Vishwanath. The second top-scorer, Syed Kirmani, made just 25.

Famed Australian sports writer Ray Robinson put it this way: 'Nobody could stay long with Viswanath who, at last, found form and won the Man of the Match award. Like his captain (Gavaskar), he wore a sun hat, whereas most of the players in the match batted with helmets.'

India had its share of miseries in this Test, amidst them umpiring that saw skipper Gavaskar walk out when he was given out lbw by Rex Whitehead.

But then came victory came as a sweet salve.

1981-82 vs England, New Delhi:

Eight and 37 runs in the first Test at Bombay, three in the second Test at Bangalore... There was talk that Viswanath would get the axe before the next Test at Delhi. But for whatever reason the selectors decided to persist with him. And he came back, in a burst of glorious form.

One hundred and seven sterling runs came off the gracious bat, the hundred coming in 268 minutes. That century brought India out of the danger zone. Vishy was his old self again, cutting with that odd mix of delicacy, elegance and dashing arrogance that marks a true master.

But it was Geoff Boycott who hogged the limelight in the Test when he became the highest run getter in Test cricket till then, beating Sir Gary Sober's 8,032-run tally.

In the fifth Test, on a lifeless Madras track, Vishy hit 222. A terrific effort but, somehow, not quite as great as the Delhi century.

1982-83 vs Pakistan, Karachi:

This was Viswanath's last Test inning. And he was bowled by Mudassar Nazar for 10. He was the first to admit that it was his worst series ever. He made just 134 runs, with just one half-century to show. With that, the curtain came down on what, any one who has seen his game will applaud, a truly glorious career.

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