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Arguably one of the finest opening pairs ever for India.
Let's remember one particular historic match.
On April 12, 1976, India completed one of their most memorable Test wins. Against the mighty West Indies, Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath played the starring roles as the Indian team created history in Port of Spain.
It was the third Test of the four-match series and the hosts were leading 1-0. Set a target of 403, the visitors put in a stunning performance with the bat on the final day of the match to win by six wickets and square the series.
The fact that only Don Bradman’s ‘Invincibles’ (in 1948 against England) had chased over 400 to win a Test before this match lends perspective to the magnitude of this achievement. At that point, India’s score of 406 was the highest total by a team to win a Test
In his autobiography Sunny Days, Gavaskar wrote: “I was confident that we could save the game, because the wicket was still good, but the thought of winning never entered my mind.”
Gavaskar duly reached his fourth century in five innings on the ground. However, India had a lot to do even after he was dismissed for 102 off 245, and that’s when Viswanath came to the party.
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,” wrote Tony Cozier in Sportsweek’s World of Cricket.
The stylish right-hander didn’t get bogged down and stroked his way to 112 off 220. It was the first time both Gavaskar and Viswanath, two of India’s greatest batsmen, scored hundreds in the same match.
“Sunil and Anshuman put on a useful 69. Then Jimmy and myself 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,” Vishwanath told Mid-day in 2016.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.scroll.in/field/958935/406-4-when-gavaskar-viswanath-came-together-to-tame-the-mighty-west-indies-and-script-history