Gundappa Viswanath Reveals How His Successful Career Came To An Abrupt End

Former Indian batsman Gundappa Viswanath has opened up on feeling disappointed having faced an axe that brought his career to a grinding halt. It transpired after the 1982/83 series against Pakistan when Gundappa Viswanath managed only 134 runs in six Tests. Viswanath averaged a miserable 16.75 with a high score of 53 as Pakistan won it by 3-0.

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Gundappa Viswanath is one of the few Indian batsmen to have scored twin centuries in the same Test. Overall, the 71-year old had a highly fulfilling career. In 91 Tests, he mustered 6080 runs at 41.93 with a high score of 222. The 91 Tests produced 14 centuries and 35 half-centuries. In addition to that, Viswanath also featured in 25 ODIs.

However, after the Pakistan series didn’t play any game for India, having dropped from India’s tour of West Indies and the 1983 World Cup. The Mysore-born batsman revealed that even before Kapil Dev came to the fore as captain, people seemed to know that he would not get the nod. While Viswanath admitted that he endured a poor series, he felt exceptionally hurt at being dropped.

“I was very, very hurt when I was dropped,” Viswanath said on Star Sports 1 Kannada show Diggajara Danthakathe. “At that time, in all the three times [innings] I took 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. He told, ‘Probably I [Kapil] think they won’t select you, is it ok?’ How do you expect me to say no I am not ok?” Gundappa stated in the Star Sports 1 Kannada show Diggajara Danthakathe.

“Thanks to Prasanna who pushed for me initially” : Gundappa Viswanath

The right-handed batsman went on to reveal that it was Erapalli Prasanna, who spotted him for Karnataka. Viswanath played pivotal roles in Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy triumphs. Gundappa Viswanath narrated that the then captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi witnessed him closely during a match for President’s XI against New Zealand in 1968.

Chandu Borde, who served as the skipper of President’s XI referred Viswanath to Pataudi that helped him to climb the ladder to the national team much earlier than expected.

“Thanks to Prasanna who pushed for me initially. It helped me play for the state. Pataudi was playing for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy. As a part of Karnataka team, we had to play against him.

He (Pataudi) saw me closely there. For a match playing for President’s XI, New Zealand had come in 1968 and I got a chance to play. Chandu Borde was the captain and we had a good partnership. He [Chandu Borde] recommended me to Pataudi and that’s how I came into prominence much earlier than what I expected.” he added.

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