Top ten Karnataka cricketers to have played for India - Part 1

Few teams have dominated the Indian domestic cricket scene like the Karnataka cricket team. Karnataka have won India’s toughest domestic tournament, the ‘Ranji Trophy‘ six times and have stamped their class as one of the toughest competitors in the Indian cricket scene.

A team is made up of several tough and dedicated individuals who will perform on the cricket field, but at the same time these players need to be supported by an administrative structure that will hold things together, behind the scenes. Karnataka cricket is administered by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which will be holding its Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year.

The KSCA originated in the year 1933-34, and has come a long way from starting at the modest Central College grounds office to now moving into the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, its present headquarters and also one of the best cricket grounds in the world.

Similarly, many generations of Karnataka cricketers have passed us by over the years, cricketers who have provided yeoman service to Karnataka and have also gone on to represent India with distinction.

Here is a look at some of the best cricketers to have come out of the great state of Karnataka. The list is in no particular order and does not look to compare any performances. It is an effort to remember some of the legends who make us feel proud of being citizens of Karnataka.

1. Gundappa Viswanath

Gundappa Viswanath of India in action during the Fifth Test match against England at Chidambaram Stadium in Madras, India. 1982.

‘Vishy’, as he was called lovingly by his team mates, was one of the most respected batsmen of the 70s within the Indian team. His speciality lay in his ability to play the ball late, both off the speedsters and the spinners. The late cut was his favourite shot and he was arguably the best exponent of the shot of his generation.

Gundappa Viswanath scored a century on debut against the visiting Australians in 1969, at Kanpur. He went on to play 91 Test matches for India and scored at and average of 41.93, with 14 hundreds and 35 fifties. A record which has to be seen in perspective, as he played on uncovered pitches and against some of the fiercest bowlers of the time. His duel with Andy Roberts in Madras, where he scored a match winning 97, is spoken of as one of the best innings ever witnessed on India soil.

Another trait of ‘Vishy’ that usually goes unnoticed is his ability to score runs in extremely tough conditions. He was able to handle the West Indians in a tough series in 1978-79 in India and, at the same time, was able to score on green top wickets which he encountered in New Zealand in 1975-76.  He has had duels with the best spinners of his time, such as Abdul Qadir and Derek Underwood, and has come out on top on most occasions.

A gentleman cricketer who epitomized the way cricket should be played, Viswanath was awarded the Col. C K Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, in recognition of his contribution to cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar has on many occasions labelled Viswanath as the original ‘little master’.