Gavaskar's 236 at Chepauk was against the fearsome WI quartet. Since he mastered them sans a helmet, it'd have to be rated the finest.
ST JOHN'S, ANTIGUA: In the first 23 years of Indo-West Indian cricket relations, Indian cricketers failed to notch up a single double century in response to three memorable two-toners from West Indies.
In the second series between the two sides in 1953 — the first in the Caribbean — the Windies greeted the Indians with two of the innings. The irrepressible Everton Weekes struck 207 at Port of Spain as he continued the run plunder he initiated in the inaugural Tests in India in 1948. However, on the same tour, Frank Worrell had been less prolific than the other two Ws — the third being Clyde Walcott. But any thoughts the Indians might have entertained about being spared by him were dispelled when he compensated with a classical 237 in the final Test at Kingston.
Then, to crown these efforts came a rollicking 256 from Rohan Kanhai at Eden Gardens in 1958-59. Anyone who was fortunate enough to witness this exhibition still hasn’t forgotten it.
India’s reply to such cavalier treatment, not surprisingly, coincided with the first major windfall in their history — in 1971. Dilip Sardesai produced an immaculate 212 in the first Test at Kingston; after India had collapsed to 75 for five.
In the next Test, at Port of Spain, the Indians recorded a maiden Test victory in West Indies - which was sufficient to clinch a landmark series win over the West Indians for the first time. This match marked the debut of Sunil Gavaskar.
He didn’t get a hundred here, but he proceeded to get four three-figure knocks in the next three Tests, climaxing with a 220 in the final encounter, again at Port of Spain. It inspired ‘Lord Relator’ to compose a calypso still popular on Caribbean radio: Gavaskar, the real master. Just like a wall, we couldn’t get Gavaskar at all. You know the West Indies couldn’t out Gavaskar at all.
Thereafter, the Dadar dynamo hit 205 at Wankede Stadium in 1978-79 and 236 not out at Chepauk in 1984-85. This was followed by Navjot Sidhu’s 201 at Port of Spain in 1997; and now Wasim Jaffer’s 212. As a result, though starting with a handicap, the Indians have registered as many double hundreds against West Indies as vice versa. Besides, four of these have been in the Caribbean, in other words, away, as opposed to only three of the West Indian efforts being in India.
So, which was the best of the Indian innings? Sardesai’s double not only helped India reach a respectable score of 387, but enabled Wadekar in a match reduced to four days by rain, to enforce a follow on. Garry Sobers, his opposite number, probably didn’t recover from such a humiliation at the hands of India! He and his mates promptly surrendered the next Test.
Sidhu’s essay was, notably, against an attack led by Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, not to mention Franklin Rose and Merv Dillon, but it was at Port of Spain on a slow turner. Now, Jaffer has staked a claim on a faster Antigua wicket, but versus a comparatively weaker set of bowlers — and Fidel Edwards, the quickest, was mostly off the field.
Which leaves Gavaskar’s compilation at Chepauk: undoubtedly in the face of a fearsome quartet of fast bowlers. Since he mastered them without a helmet, this would probably have to be rated the finest.
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