Gundappa Viswanath Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More 2024

Some Lesser Known Facts About Gundappa Viswanath

• Gundappa Viswanath is a former Indian batter recognized for his elegant wrist work and batting type. His prime focus was extra on timing than energy and is thought to be one of many courageous batters towards quick bowling. He can be one of the beloved Indian cricketers recognized for his true sportsmanship and integrity.

• Viswanath’s family moved to Bangalore (now Bengaluru) when he was 5 years outdated. His curiosity in cricket rose when he noticed his elder brother and neighbor S Krishna taking part in membership cricket. His brother was an important fan of Australian cricket and use to wake Vishy as much as hearken to the cricket commentary when the Australian group was taking part in. He performed his first cricket match for the Spartan Sports Club within the third division of the Mysore Cricket League. Actually, it was B. N. Chandrasekhar, a cricket promoter who watched him taking part in on the High School floor in Bangalore. He was utterly fascinated along with his batting after which instructed him,
  

  “You come and play for Spartans Club.”

  Vishy thought that the person was joking. But in the end he was given an opportunity to play for the Spartan Sports Club. At that point, their captain requested Chandrasekhar

  “Do you want to kill this poor kid? Don’t you know that our opponents of today possess a couple of good fast bowlers?”

  

  Young Vishy

  But Vishy proved him fallacious and scored worthwhile 30 runs in his first match. Later that captain apologized to Chandrashekhar for underestimating the younger Vishy. From thereon, he grew to become the everlasting member of that squad and from hereon his cricket journey started.

• He made his Ranji Debut in 1967 whereas taking part in for Mysore towards Andhra Pradesh on the Municipal Stadium (now Indira Gandhi Stadium) in Vijaywada. He scored unbeaten 209 runs on the primary day. On the subsequent day, he went on to attain the very best Ranji particular person rating (230 runs) at the moment surpassing V Subramaya’s 213 and George Abel’s 210 for Northern India towards the Army in 1933-34. His inning consists of 33 fours and 5 sixes.
  

  Vishy throughout his youthful days

• His second-best first-class efficiency got here towards the identical group in 1969 towards the customer New Zealand group whereas taking part in for Indian Board President’s XI. His group misplaced three wickets on the rating of 28 runs when Viswanath added 99 runs with Chandu Borde and ended his inning with 68 runs. From there on, he was included within the nationwide facet within the taking part in 15 squads. He didn’t wait a lot and shortly made his worldwide debut one month later towards Bill Lawry’s Australians.
  

  Vishy preparing for the follow session

• Due to his quick top, he would face many obstacles in cricket throughout childhood. Even a Karnataka state junior group selector termed him as “too short” to play cricket. But Viswanath saved on working laborious and in the end bagged the place on the Indian facet and celebrated the success by scoring the century in his very first worldwide recreation. Though, he acquired out on duck within the first inning of the identical take a look at match. After that inning, then group captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi suggested him to remain relaxed and composed. As a outcome, when the Kanpur crowd had been bracing themself with one other group India’s collapse, much like the earlier take a look at, Viswanath performed with confidence towards Alan Connolly who troubled him within the first inning. He began his inning with drives on either side of the bottom. On a well-known cricket web site, it was written,
  

  “That day Viswanath played every stroke as if painting a precious masterpiece on a green canvas. Even a defensive push was a sight for sore eyes. When he drove or flicked, he never hit the ball, but gently guided it on its way. It was while essaying the square-cut that every ounce of his little frame went into the wallop, sending the ball screaming through the crowded point area.”

  At the top of the day, Viswanath ended his rating on 69 runs taking his group rating to 204 for the lack of 5 wickets. The well-known newspaper hailed his inning by saying,

  “Hail Viswanath. He is the new star that has arrived to brighten our cricket horizon.”

  The subsequent morning he moved to 96 runs with none spot of hassle. But for the subsequent twenty minutes, he couldn’t capable of rating a single run. Then lastly, he performed a sq. drive towards Connolly and raised up his first hundred within the first take a look at match of his profession. In all, he scored 137 runs together with 100 runs off the boundaries, and took his facet to an emphatic win. Lieutenant colonel VR Mohan who was additionally an industrialist in Lucknow introduced a reward of three gold medals priced at 1000 INR every to Viswanath, Ashok Mankad, and Paul Sheahan for his or her performances within the Kanpur match. After that inning, it took him fairly some time to show right into a everlasting member of the Indian group at quantity 4. Later, he acquired chosen within the Karnataka group for the Ranji trophy beneath the captaincy of Erapalli Prasanna the place he scored the double century on his first-class debut.

  

  Gundappa Viswanath taking part in a shot

• During one of many state junior tournaments, Vishy was not seen on the match until lunch. After lunch, he arrived with information that his pet canine has bitten him. That was the one domestic-level match that Vishy missed from the time he began taking part in skilled cricket. He then performed some superb innings within the P Ramachandra Rao Memorial Trophy.
  

  Gundappa Viswanath (excessive proper sitting) posing earlier than a match along with his group between SBI and a neighborhood group

• He was a member of the facet when India received their first take a look at match in England beneath the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar in 1971.
  

  Vishy (second from left sitting) alongside along with his group posing earlier than the tour to England in 1971

  

  Still from the match the place India registered their first-ever ODI win

• When he scored 100 towards England at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai in the course of the fifth take a look at in 1973, England’s captain Tony Craig was so impressed with the fashionable stroke play that he lifted him up and cradled him in appreciation. In this match, Vishy scored 113 runs. Before that many critics had been fearing that may Vishwanath play the innings as he performed in his debut?
  

  Viswanath throughout an inning of 113 runs towards England

  

  Tony Craig lifting Vishy up in February 1973

•  One of his finest innings got here towards West Indies at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Madras (now Chennai) on 11 January 1975. Vishwanath scored unbeaten 97 runs out of the entire 190 runs within the first innings whereas batting on the quantity 4 place towards the bowling of Andy Roberts and Lance Gibbs. He additionally scored essential 46 runs within the second inning and took his facet to a win by 100 runs. It is thought to be one of many best performances by an Indian. The Wisden 100 charges it because the thirty eighth finest inning of all time and second-best non-century. He additionally had the century (139 runs) within the earlier take a look at match of this collection. Interestingly, he had a batting common of above 50 towards the lights of Australia and the West Indies which might be recognized for his or her robust tempo assault.
  

  Viswanath throughout his knock of 97 runs

• Some of his finest batting performances embody 112 runs scored on the Port of Spain in Trinidad. It was performed on 7 April 1976 towards the mighty Caribbeans the place India bagged a victory by six wickets. India was chasing the goal of 403 runs within the second innings. India misplaced their first and second wicket on 69 runs and 177 runs. And in walks Viswanath who held a match-winning partnership of 159 runs with Mohinder Amarnath and 56 runs with Brijesh Patel. It was the very best profitable run chase throughout that point. Before that solely Don Bradman’s ‘Invincibles’ (in 1948 towards England) had chased over 400 to win a Test. Interestingly, it was on this match when lofting to a spinner began. About his inning, Tony Cozier; a Barbadian journalist wrote on Sportsweek journal,
  

  “Vishwanath looked a complete batsman with an exciting array of shots which he was never afraid to unleash. It was Vishwanath, who was unrelentingly severe on Holding and Julien.”

  In one other interview with a newspaper in 2016, Viswanath revealed,

  “Sunil and Anshuman put on a useful 69. Then Jimmy and I had a good partnership (159) which was followed by some good batting by Brijesh Patel (49 not out). We only accelerated once Clive Lloyd took the new ball. That’s when the runs started flowing and that made us fancy our chances. It was a very fine victory.”

  A outstanding Indian journalist Okay. N. Prabhu wrote,

  “It was a wise move to send Brijesh Patel ahead of Eknath Solkar. Patel, with his bristling mustache, looked like a Bombay pirate, and he played the part by plundering runs. Everything was grist to the mill – mishits, byes – and there were also some dazzling strokes as Patel and Amarnath raced each other. When Patel pulled Jumadeen to bring up the victory with six mandatory overs remaining, the crowd came racing to the pavilion, and the cheers of the Indian supporters echoed from the Northern Hills which towered over the skyline.”

  

  Newspaper clip when India registered the very best chased take a look at rating towards West Indies

  

  Viswanath taking part in an inning of 114 runs

• His different notable take a look at efficiency got here towards West Indies on 12 January 1979 on the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Madras (now Chennai). In reply to the Caribbean’s 228 runs within the first inning, India misplaced their early two wickets on 11 runs when Viswanath got here to bat. He steadied the ship with an excellent 124 runs on a bouncy wicket and earned the lead of 27 runs within the first innings. In the final inning, India required 125 runs to win on the final day which they received by shedding seven wickets. Although, this West Indian facet was thought of weaker compared to the earlier one as lots of their gamers opted to play within the World Series cricket.
  

  Gundappa Viswanath taking part in a shot in the course of the inning of 124 towards West Indies in 1979

  

  Gundappa Viswanath’s Indian Test Match Cap from the 1979 tour of England

• He charges his One-day inning at 75 runs of 134 balls as the perfect reminiscence of his life. This inning got here towards the fearsome West Indian facet in the course of the Prudential Cricket World Cup in 1979 when Caribbeans had been at their peak. The day was 9 June. West Indies was star-studded with the gamers like Gordon Greenidge, Vivian Richards, Desmond Haynes, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, and Joel Garner. They had been the defending champions. India was batting first and misplaced their first three wickets on a rating of 29 runs. Vishy held the one find yourself and together with Brijesh Patel and Kapil Dev took the rating to 163 earlier than he acquired dismissed after hitting seven fours. The depth of his inning will be estimated from the truth that the subsequent high rating in that inning was 15 made by Brijesh Patel. India misplaced the match by 9 wickets.

• MS Dhoni is named a pioneer of helicopter shot in modern-day cricket. Very few individuals know that Gundappa additionally performed a helicopter shot approach again in 1979 towards West Indies.
  

  RARE GOLD – Gundappa Vishwanath taking part in a helicopter shot approach again in 1979… Look on the second shot on this video and inform me what was it? pic.twitter.com/WCvJCq1RcT

  — Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) August 31, 2019

• He additionally held the captaincy of the Indian group in two take a look at matches in 1979. Out of those two, one match was misplaced and one other resulted in a draw. Interestingly, the latter take a look at was the golden jubilee match towards England.

• In a match towards England when he was the captain, Bob Taylor was given out caught by the umpire Hanumantha Rao which was truly not out. As Bob was strolling to the pavilion, Viswanath determined to name him again to the sphere when their rating was 22 for five. Bob performed an inning that helped England to win that match.
  

  “For me, spirit of the game is of paramount importance rather than winning or losing a Test. Obviously, as captain, you play hard to win. But there are times when it’s your inner call that tells you what is right. I really appreciate Dhoni’s decision to call Bell back.”

  

  Gundappa Viswanath (third left) asking Bob Taylor that whether or not he has nicked a ball or not

• On 7 February 1981 towards Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCC) in Victoria, Viswanath performed an inning that took the match from the opposition. In the primary inning, he scored virtually 50 % of the group’s runs. India was in a spot of hassle having misplaced Chetan Chauhan and Dilip Vengsarkar on a rating of 23 runs. After that, captain Sunil Gavaskar too fell cheaply with a rating of 43 on the board. But Vishy continued towards the lights of Dennis Lilee and Len Pascoe and finish the group’s inning with 237 runs with Vishy contributing with 114 runs off 222 balls. In reply, Australia posed a mammoth 419 runs and took a lead of 182 runs. On the opposite India batted brilliantly and gave Australia the goal of 143 runs. Vishy scored 30 runs out of that inning.

• He additionally held a document partnership with Yashpal Sharma of 316 runs after they battled for your entire day in the course of the take a look at at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai (now M. A. Chidambaram Stadium) on 13 January 1982 towards England. This match resulted in a draw the place Vishy contributed with 222 runs. Recalling that inning, Viswanath instructed,
  

  “Playing a whole day in Test cricket is a unique achievement and not many people have done it. The two of us playing the whole day was memorable. He was a very good cricketer, hardworking, a team man and I would say a total cricketer. The pitch was a bit bouncy and we lost Sunil Gavaskar and Pranab Roy early on. Dilip Vengsarkar was hit by a Bob Willis bouncer and retired hurt.”

  He additionally revealed that when Yashpal got here out to bat, that they had a protracted speak after which determined to play cautiously. He additional added,

  “He played superbly and it was an attractive innings. He kept egging me on saying, “Vishy Bhai, chhodna nhi, hum dono aaj khelenge (don’t give up, both of us will keep playing). Towards the end of the day, he kept telling me to play the long innings and inspired me by saying, “Ab pura din khelenge (we will bat the entire day).”

  

  Vishy taking part in a drive throughout his ODI inning at Chepauk Madras towards England in 1982

• He was one of many few Indian batters who fall sufferer to the Pakistani umpire’s biased selections. The similar occurred throughout a take a look at collection towards Pakistan which India misplaced by 3-0. As a results of his poor efficiency (neglecting the umpire’s biased determination), he was later dropped from the Indian facet. He may solely handle to attain 134 runs in six take a look at matches in the course of the collection. In an interview with a newspaper, he instructed,
  

  “I was very, very hurt when I was dropped. At that time, in all three times [innings] I took the wrong decisions. It is part of the game. But in that [situation] in two innings, if I had scored well, they would not have removed me. Kapil’s captaincy was not announced but it was almost known to everyone. Probably Kapil think they won’t select you, is it ok?’ How do you expect me to say no I am not ok?”

• His profession decline began in a match towards the inexperienced Sri Lankan facet. In each the innings, he may handle to attain solely 9 and a couple of runs. He performed his final worldwide collection towards Pakistan in Pakistan when he acquired out of the inswinging supply of Imran Khan. This was Imran Khan’s 200 scalp in a take a look at match. Later in the course of the closing take a look at in Karachi, he was pushed to quantity six the place he may solely handle 10 runs after staying on the crease for one hour and forty minutes. He acquired out off the bowling of Mudassar Nazar. He was then dropped for the succeeding collection towards West Indies and by no means acquired again into the Indian facet.

• In 1983, he performed his final worldwide recreation towards Pakistan and later retired from all types of the sport. He then served because the match referee from 1999 to 2004. After that, he grew to become the Chairman of the nationwide choice committee and later served because the supervisor of the Indian cricket group.
  

  Viswanath throughout his final taking part in days

• His profession ended with 6080 runs in 155 innings he performed out of 91 take a look at matches with a mean of 41.93. it consists of 35 fifties and 14 centuries. He had probably the most profitable batting profession towards England the place he scored 1880 runs with a mean of 37.60 after taking part in 30 take a look at matches. His highest rating of 222 runs got here towards this facet. Apart from the Indian sub-continent, he’s most profitable in England with 858 runs out of 13 take a look at matches. 1979 is his most profitable 12 months when it comes to runs scored (1388 runs). He performed beneath Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar, MAK Pataudi, S Venkataraghavan, and Ajit Wadekar.
  

  Viswanath rating graph for through the years since his debut. Courtesy- Reliance ICC Ranking

• Talking about his One-day International profession, he performed 25 matches and scored 439 runs with a mean of 19.95. He by no means scored a century on this format and managed to attain two fifties. One towards West Indies and one other towards New Zealand. He has one duck in his total ODI profession that too towards Pakistan. He scored most of his runs in England (190 runs) adopted by Australia with 149 runs. He performed beneath 4 ODI captains similar as his take a look at captains. In ODIs additionally, he’s most profitable on the quantity 4 slot the place he scored 402 runs. He took 66 catches in his total worldwide profession.

• He is the joint shortest Indian cricketer until date with a top of 5.2 feet together with Parthiv Patel. Overall, he’s the fifth shortest when it comes to worldwide cricketers after Kruger Van Wyk from New Zealand (4.9 feet), Tich Cornford (5.0 feet) from England, Tich Freeman (5.2 feet) additionally from England, and Mushfiqur Rahim from Bangladesh (5.3 feet).

• He went to Gavaskar’s home frequently and there he fell in love along with his youthful sister Kavita. Then after a number of conferences, they each determined to tie a knot. Viswanath waited until the time Kavita attained the age of 18.

• There is a continuing debate about who’s the higher batter: Gavaskar or Viswanath. Responding to this critic, many former cricketers got here to pose their opinions. Fast bowling greats like Dennie Lilee and Andy Roberts charges Viswanath higher than Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar as a batter. Viswanath himself instructed,
  

  “I think it is very wrong for anyone to compare me and Sunil now. How can I comment? I finished my career a long time ago. I see no need to be drawn into discussing it now or to have my performance compared to anyone else’s. How can I say I am a better player than anyone else?”

  Former Indian cricketer Eknath Solkar mentioned,

  “Sunil Gavaskar and G R Vishwanath were two different batters. One was an opener, the other played in the middle order. Naturally, their techniques were different. Gavaskar’s technique was more solid. He had more concentration and was a very difficult batsman to beat. Vishy was an aggressive batsman. When in touch he could destroy the best of bowling attacks. He was an elegant batsman who had a full range of shots like the square cut and the flick and was very good to watch. Both were very good batsmen. There cannot be any comparison between the two. On paper, Gavaskar has scored more Test runs than Vishwanath. Otherwise, both were top-quality batsmen.”

  First ODI captain of India Ajit Wadekar mentioned,

  “Viswanath was a person to look at. He could produce all types of strokes. Sunil Gavaskar was like Bradman; he just went on with his business of accumulating runs for himself and the team. Vishy was a charming batsman and would play shots that you will not find in the books. He was very good to watch when in full flow. Gavaskar’s concentration was very good; he just accumulated runs. Once he reached 50, he would try for a hundred. After reaching 100, he would try to get 150, and would just go on. If he had been born outside India, he would have been regarded as [highly as] Bradman. His batting was risk-free and he would only go for the loose balls. A comparison cannot be drawn between the two as both were equally talented and both produced runs when needed most by the team. Their brilliant batting helped me win many Test matches. I am really thankful to both.”

  Dilip Vengsarkar mentioned,

  “Sunil Gavaskar and G R Vishwanath were equally good. It would be unfair to draw a comparison between them. Gavaskar had great determination, his concentration was good. Vishy was a fine stroke player, he was very wristy. He was an artist. He played some brilliant strokes.”

  

  Gundappa Viswanath with Sunil Gavaskar

• In an interview with well-known sports activities journalist Boria Majumdar, it was requested Vishy that whether or not he can play the T20 format? To which he replied,
  

  “To be honest, I do. And I think I would’ve done well in this format. I was a stroke player all along and this is a format that encourages stroke play. Not everyone needs to be an (Andre) Russell or a Lynn. Look at how Shubman Gill is playing. He is executing cricket shots to perfection and yet scoring at a strike rate of more than 150. Take the cases of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both have scored a lot of runs in this format and have done so playing conventional cricket shots. How many times have you seen Kohli play cross-batted slogs? While I enjoy seeing players like Lynn and Russell, I think conventional batsmen also have a place in the T20 game.”

• When Vishy was requested concerning the disappointing part in his profession. He revealed,
  

  “When asked if there has been any disappointing thing about his career, he replied, ‘Yes, when I had to leave Test cricket. My tour of Pakistan in 1982-83 was not good. But this tour was not good for some other players. I wanted to take a short break from international cricket, but that short break became a permanent break for me.”

  

  Viswanath throughout a launch of e book spinner finest buddy together with Sunil Gavaskar, Ajit Wadekar, and B. S. Chandrasekhar (excessive proper)

• In 2013, a e book was launched named “The Great Tamasha: Cricket, Corruption, and the Turbulent Rise of Modern India” which embarks on a cricketing journey of Gundappa Viswanath.

• Former Indian Wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani picked the best eleven cricketers from Karnataka and Vishy was picked because the quantity 4 batter. His taking part in Karnataka XI are Venkataraman Subramanya (Captain), Roger Binny, Rahul Dravid, G R Vishwanath, Brijesh Patel, Syed Kirmani (Wicketkeeper), Sunil Joshi, Anil Kumble, EAS Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrashekhar, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad.

• During the time when he was the selector. In an interview, it was requested to him the distinction between watching a match as a participant and as a selector. He replied,
  

  “During the initial stages of my career, I used to watch every ball of a match. That was my attitude for the first 30 or 35 Test matches. Then slowly I started to move around and began to watch only when something dramatic was happening or when somebody was building up a big inning. After becoming a selector I am watching every ball. Initially, I found it a strain. But soon I began to enjoy it. I think it is worth it. Watching 600 and 700-run innings, I got used to it.”

• He is a member of the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA). ICA is an official affiliation for retired first-class and worldwide cricketers in India for each women and men.
  

  Gundappa Viswanath

• A sports activities journalist Vijay Lokapally as soon as wrote,
  

  “If ever God gave me a boon I would want to bat like GR Viswanath. Yes. There was a certain magic about his presence at the crease. I just could not take my eyes off Vishy Sir when he walked from slip to slip at the end of the over. He would be immersed in his thoughts and settle down into his position with precision marking his movement. He was a delight on the field.”

• Sunil Gavaskar named his son Rohan Jaivishwa after three of his favourite cricketers- Rohan Kanhai, M.L Jaisimha, and Gundappa Viswanath.

• Viswanath condemn when Indian spin stalwart Anil Kumble was appointed the coach of the Indian group for just one 12 months. He mentioned,
  

  “Anil to me is a very good choice. He is a good student of the game and that will help him in his new role. I have seen Anil from his younger days. He has been a great player for India and he has it in him to be a good coach, which he has proved with his mentoring roles in the IPL. However, it is a bit strange that he has been appointed for only one year. It is not much you can do in that much span.”

• After Yashpal acquired expired on 13 July 2021, Viswanath mentioned,
  

  “The news is very shocking for me. I had never heard anything from anyone that he was unwell. So I am still not able to believe that he is no more. My condolences to his family and I hope they can bear through this pain.”

  

  Viswanath batting with Yashpal Sharma (with the helmet)

• Talking concerning the World Test Championship closing match between India and New Zealand at The Ageas Bowl in Hampshire (England), he instructed,
  

  “Both the teams will be playing at a neutral venue. It will be a good contest. New Zealand is a good side. India can’t take them lightly. The atmosphere will be different. India has an edge over New Zealand. It will be an exciting clash. Winning in Australia and vs England will be a confidence booster for India in the WTC final. It will be India bowlers vs the New Zealand batsmen in the WTC final. India’s bowling is super strong right now. Look at Shami, Bumrah, Siraj and Ishant. They all are in good touch. Siraj did a wonderful job in Australia. I am sure he will do the job for Virat in the WTC final too.”

• Talking about his hero Neil Harvey, he mentioned,
  

  “Well, my hero was Harvey. I have never seen him play, but I knew about it through my brother who used to write about it. He told me, that when he [Harvey] first came to India, he moved halfway across the pitch to hit Subhash Gupte through the covers.”

  

  Gundappa Viswanath throughout an occasion in 2009 alongside legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Amitabh Bachchan