Gundappa Viswanath was one of the best cricketers India had ever produced. His career ran over a period of more than ten years with consistent success in Test matches as well as in One Day Internationals. Viswanath, known for his elegant style of batting, was one of the great Indian cricketing geniuses to have contributed on both fronts-test matches and one-day internationals. This made him the cricketer India needed on several occasions while going through difficult phases in a match.
Viswanath played Test cricket for India from 1969 to 1983 and scored over 6,000 runs in 91 matches. Besides, he also represented India in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, which contributed to his prominence on the international grounds.
Physical Characteristics
Height: 160 cm (1.60 m, 5′ 3″)
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Hair Color: Natural Black
Cricket Career
ODI Debut: April 3, 1974, versus England at Yorkshire Cricket Ground, Leeds
Debut Test: 15 November 1969, Australia vs. Green Park International Stadium, Kanpur
Last ODI Game: June 2, 1982, England at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Last Test Game: 30 January 1983, Pakistan at National Stadium, Karachi
Memorable Records
He was the first cricketer in cricketing history to score a double century in the first first-class match and then a century on Test debut.
One of four players to score a century and a duck in their debut Test game.
First Indian to score hundreds on both debut Test and debut first-class cricket.
The third Indian to remain not out throughout a full day’s play, following Yashpal Sharma.
The first Indian batter to score six consecutive fifties in Test cricket, with Rahul Dravid and KL Rahul.
Second-most runs scored by the No. 4 position batter after Sachin Tendulkar: 5081 runs.
The first Indian batted to occupy the number one position of ICC rankings on February 20, 1975: Glenn Turner was overhauled.
Only batsman whose centuries won or drawn games.
Second Indian to bat to score a century at Lord’s after Vinoo Mankad in 1952
Yet another ‘run-getter’ on Indian soil. Their third highest in the India-England Test series in India (1022 runs)
Fourth-highest individual score in India-England Tests in India: 222 runs
Awards & Honours
Arjuna Award in 1977
Col. C.K. Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award by BCCI in 2009
Personal Life
Born on February 12, 1949
Age as of 2025: 76
Birthplace: Bhadravathi, Mysore state (presently Shivamogga, Karnataka)
The contribution to Indian cricket, by Viswanath, was enormous, not only because of his batting and leadership qualities but also for the commitment he gave to the team. He was part of the generation that sculpted the Indian cricket scenario of the 1970s and early 1980s.
His legacy still inspires young cricketers; thus, his record will still be a proud chapter in the history of Indian cricket. Viswanath’s many milestones, from his famous hundreds to being recognized by the ICC and receiving awards such as the Arjuna Award, show that he was truly one-of-a-kind on the field.
