Sunil Gavaskar in the India-Pakistan match of 1978-79 was truly a sight to behold. One of the most anticipated and tension filled affairs at any time is an India-Pakistan match. Pakistan attained test status for the first time in 1952, and went on to first play India in India. Of the five-match series, the last two were drawn, a stalemate set in between the two teams because of the safety-first issue. A second series in 1954 and another in 1960 went without a result. At this stage, cricketing ties between the two countries were snapped. Thus sporting ties between the two countries remained suspended for several years except for occasional meetings on foreign soil. It was after almost seventeen years that there was a renewal of ties, and the historic test match between India and Pakistan was held in 1978.
In the first test of the three-test series held at Faisalabad, India`s spin attack held no terrors for Pakistan batsmen, who declared at 503 for eight in the first Test. The innings were begun by Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan, both of whom were treated with a stream of bumpers as they began the innings. While India`s opening pair was facing a barrage of bumpers, Gavaskar called for his captain Bishen Singh Bedi. Gavaskar had asked for Bedi because the watches of the umpires were not synchronised - there was a difference of 20 minutes between the watches of the two umpires and the ground was without a clock. Gavaskar went on to score 89 before he was bowled by Iqbal Qasim. Vishwanath scored 145 and Bedi declared at 462 for nine. The match was destined to be a draw. To Pakistan`s second innings score of 264 for four declared, India`s reply was 43 for no loss with Gavaskar unbeaten at eight and Chauhan undefeated at 30.
The first innings of the second test at Lahore saw Gavaskar caught for five by Majid Khan off Salim Altaf. India were dismissed for 199. The main wicket-takers were Imran Khan (4 for 54) and Sarfraz Nawaz (4 for 46). Pakistan replied with 539 for six declared with Zaheer Abbas giving ample evidence of his batting prowess by slamming an unbeaten 235.
In the second innings, the opening Indian pair of Chauhan and Gavaskar were able to put in 192 before they were caught and given out. Both the batsmen, particularly Gavaskar, disputed the decisions. Both, particularly Gavaskar, disputed the decisions. Gavaskar was given out caught at point by Sarfraz off Mushtaq for 97. Chauhan (93) was declared caught by Bari off Miandad. This has been Chauhan`s highest score of his career. These two decisions against Gavaskar and Chauhan caused tempers to run high and marred the proceedings. India, however, continued to fight it out and managed 465. Pakistan experiencing no problem achieved their target of 126 to record an eight-wicket victory. The rejoicing was so great in Pakistan that the Government declared a national holiday.
In the third and final test at Karachi, Gavaskar attained another landmark- a century in each innings. This was not enough to save India who again lost by eight wickets. The final test saw India taking the field with only two spinners.
Gavaskar`s century helped India reach 344 even after the middle order had caved in easily. Pakistan rallied from 187 for five to 481 for nine declared. Facing a deficit of 137, India managed a total of 300. Gavaskar scored 137 before he was caught by Bari off Sarfraz Nawaz. This score helped Gavaskar overtake Polly Umrigar`s record Indian aggregate of 3,631. Pakistan gained a sensational victory with seven deliveries to spare. They were set with the improbable task of scoring 164 runs in only 35 minutes and 20 mandatory overs. They accepted the challenge as Asif Iqbal and Miandad once again crushed the Indian attack.
Despite India`s defeat, the tour ended in personal glory for Gavaskar. He scored 447 runs in three Tests at an average of 89.40. In the first drawn Test at Faislabad, he scored 89 and 8 not out. In the remaining two at Lahore and Karachi, both of which India lost, he scored 5 and 97 and 111 and 137. This was the second time he had scored two centuries in one Test. Only Herbert Sutcliffe (England) and Clyde Walcott (West Indies) had achieved this distinction earlier. One of these, however, was a lucky one. "I was caught at the wicket off the first ball I faced in the second innings of the Karachi Test", Gavaskar himself admits. He has said that he did not walk off because he had so many decisions given against him in Pakistan. The Pakistan test-series saw the further rise of Gavaskar, who was setting up his own record and coming into the forefront of Indian cricket.
