On this day, India’s former captain, Sunil Gavaskar, achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first batter to hit a century in each innings of a Test match for the third time in his career. In the 1978/79 series, West Indies embarked on a long tour to India, and the two teams engaged in a 6-match Test series. Following consecutive draws in the first couple of matches, the Indians arrived in Kolkata intending to take the lead in the series.
First Innings:
Winning the toss, Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar chose to set a target in the first innings. However, India faced a shaky start, losing two early wickets with opener Chetan Chauhan and top-order batter Anshuman Gaekwad dismissed. Despite this, Sunil Gavaskar remained steadfast, building crucial partnerships with veteran Gundappa Viswanath and fellow Mumbaiker Dilip Vengsarkar. Thanks to Gavaskar’s century, India reached the 300-run mark, posting a competitive total.
Second Innings:
Having taken the lead in the first innings, West Indies now aimed to bat India out of the game. In times of crisis, Sunil Gavaskar proved to be India’s most reliable player, showcasing a batting masterclass in the second innings. Just as in the first innings, Anshuman Gaekwad fell early, but this time Dilip Vengsarkar provided support to Gavaskar, preventing West Indian bowlers from making more breakthroughs. The Indian skipper scored 182 runs, while Vengsarkar amassed 157 runs, remaining unbeaten until the declaration of the second innings.
Despite a brilliant performance by the Indian bowling unit in the second innings, West Indies narrowly managed to secure a draw, avoiding conceding a lead in the series. This historic Kolkata Test will always be remembered for Sunil Gavaskar’s heroics with the bat.