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WRIST ASSURED: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Wrist Assured traces the cricketing journey of wristy genius G.R. Vishwanath from the dusty by-lanes of erstwhile Bangalore to the most iconic venues in the world. It gives deep insights into the mind of a champion, and of the trials and tribulations of an international career that saw both despair and delight in his very first Test.
Vishwanath followed up a first-innings duck with 137 in the second against Australia in Kanpur in 1969. The same crowd that had hurled matkas on his way back in the first innings rose as one to celebrate his century, providing him his first important lesson—nothing succeeds like success.
His solid middle-class upbringing instilled in Vishwanath a clear sense of right and wrong which he harnessed throughout his 91-Test career.Wrist Assured provides a ringside view of what made Vishwanath tick and why he is one of the most adored and respected cricketers to have graced the cricketing stage.
Vishwanath followed up a first-innings duck with 137 in the second against Australia in Kanpur in 1969. The same crowd that had hurled matkas on his way back in the first innings rose as one to celebrate his century, providing him his first important lesson—nothing succeeds like success.
His solid middle-class upbringing instilled in Vishwanath a clear sense of right and wrong which he harnessed throughout his 91-Test career.Wrist Assured provides a ringside view of what made Vishwanath tick and why he is one of the most adored and respected cricketers to have graced the cricketing stage.
- GenresSports
280 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2022
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September 25, 2022
The albedo effect refers to the ability possessed by a surface to reflect light. For example, about 30 % of the sun’s radiation is reflected back and away by the Earth’s surface. Gundappa Ranganatha Viswanath, fondly known to the cricketing world as “Vishy” had a similar albedo effect on his adoring fans. The more faith you reposed in the maestro, the more love you showered on him, he reflected back the confidence a thousand fold. Emblematic of an astounding degree of humility, Vishy possessed a steely reserve and supple wrists that made him one of the most engaging and extraordinary batsmen to watch.
In “Wrist Assured”, Vishy, ably aided and abetted by the redoubtable veteran journalist R. Kaushik, recounts his illustrious cricketing sojourn (India never lost a game of cricket where Vishwanath made a century, and he notched up 14 of these), in a startlingly matter-of-fact manner that is memorably endearing. The son of a stenographer from the industrial town of Bhadravati, whose employment with the Mysore State Electricity Board brought the family to the city of Bangalore, Vishy had cricket in his DNA. Paying scant regard to academics, a young Vishy made batting a way of life. A month shy of his 11th birthday found Vishy transported into a rarefied realm. He furtively touched his sporting hero, the aesthetic and brilliant Australian batsman Neil Harvey who was part of the 1960 Australian tour to India, as and when Harvey made his way down the team bus.
A refreshingly honest attempt at strengths and vulnerabilities, Wrist Assured makes for absolutely wonderful reading. Vishy, as usual, is effusive (as he was on the field) in giving credit where it is due. For example, he reserves his highest respect, nay reverence to the debonair Nawab of Pataudi, Mansur Ali Khan Jr for making him realise the need for his magically supple wrists to be complemented by a degree of strength. When the former India skipper asked Vishy to practice weight training by lifting a couple of buckets filled with water, the latter was initially under the impression that the Nawab was pulling his leg. But this piece of wisdom led to Vishy regaling the entire cricketing world with a repertoire of strokes that were emblematic of pure genius.
The introductory chapter acts as a delectable appetizer for the much vaunted main course. Passages of wistful nostalgia takes the reader to a setting ripe for a surprise party to usher in Vishy’s 70th birthday. His iconic brother-in-law Sunil Gavaskar acts as the main perpetrator of the crime by springing a pleasant surprise on Vishy, by manifesting himself at dinner along with some of Vishy’s best friends on and off the field such as Anshuman Gaekwad, Roger Binny etc.
Similarly a fond reminiscence of a spontaneous trip to Ooty instigated by the Nawab of Pataudi makes for some fascinating reading. Idling away amidst an idyllic setting, Vishy and Pataudi are regaled by Pataudi’s wife, Sharmila Tagore and by Rajesh Khanna, who at the time was at the apogee of his acting prowess.
Vishy’s cricketing debut was an exercise in philosophical meditation. He experienced the entire spectrum of Yin and Yang in his very first international outing. Facing Ian Chappell’s Australians at Kanpur, the diminutive batsman clocked an ignominious duck and while he was dejectedly making his way back to the pavilion was pelted, literally, with matkas and jeers. But in the very next innings he atoned for his lapse by scoring an astonishing 137 and getting the very same crowd to give him a standing ovation. This incident also encapsulated in surgical precision, the fickle minded nature of the Indian spectator who is fueled by expectation and lubricated by emotion. As Vishy writes, “Kanpur was an unforgettable experience. Four days of anxiety and uncertainty, followed by two outlook-altering, path-charting days of unfettered joy. I wasn’t just a Test cricketer now, I was a Test centurion too.”
Vishy also holds a record that might be unique for any cricketer in general, and batsman in particular. Every time, he notched a hundred in a Test Match – he accumulated 14 of them – India either went on to win the game or draw it. India never lost a single Test Match in which Vishy recorded a ton! This master batsman played for India 91 times in Test matches making 6,080 runs. He has also been conferred with the Padma Shri and Arjuna Awards for his contribution to the sport. Vishy was also involved in various administrative capacities following his retirement from the game.
“Wrist Assured” is as subtle, supple, and succinct as the seraphic 97 he scored in Chepauk, on 11th January 1975 against a brutally fast and hostile West Indian fast bowling attack led by the redoubtable Andy Roberts. “What 97?” you ask. Well it will take an entire book, if not more to describe that stunning and surreal piece of artistry alone!
In “Wrist Assured”, Vishy, ably aided and abetted by the redoubtable veteran journalist R. Kaushik, recounts his illustrious cricketing sojourn (India never lost a game of cricket where Vishwanath made a century, and he notched up 14 of these), in a startlingly matter-of-fact manner that is memorably endearing. The son of a stenographer from the industrial town of Bhadravati, whose employment with the Mysore State Electricity Board brought the family to the city of Bangalore, Vishy had cricket in his DNA. Paying scant regard to academics, a young Vishy made batting a way of life. A month shy of his 11th birthday found Vishy transported into a rarefied realm. He furtively touched his sporting hero, the aesthetic and brilliant Australian batsman Neil Harvey who was part of the 1960 Australian tour to India, as and when Harvey made his way down the team bus.
A refreshingly honest attempt at strengths and vulnerabilities, Wrist Assured makes for absolutely wonderful reading. Vishy, as usual, is effusive (as he was on the field) in giving credit where it is due. For example, he reserves his highest respect, nay reverence to the debonair Nawab of Pataudi, Mansur Ali Khan Jr for making him realise the need for his magically supple wrists to be complemented by a degree of strength. When the former India skipper asked Vishy to practice weight training by lifting a couple of buckets filled with water, the latter was initially under the impression that the Nawab was pulling his leg. But this piece of wisdom led to Vishy regaling the entire cricketing world with a repertoire of strokes that were emblematic of pure genius.
The introductory chapter acts as a delectable appetizer for the much vaunted main course. Passages of wistful nostalgia takes the reader to a setting ripe for a surprise party to usher in Vishy’s 70th birthday. His iconic brother-in-law Sunil Gavaskar acts as the main perpetrator of the crime by springing a pleasant surprise on Vishy, by manifesting himself at dinner along with some of Vishy’s best friends on and off the field such as Anshuman Gaekwad, Roger Binny etc.
Similarly a fond reminiscence of a spontaneous trip to Ooty instigated by the Nawab of Pataudi makes for some fascinating reading. Idling away amidst an idyllic setting, Vishy and Pataudi are regaled by Pataudi’s wife, Sharmila Tagore and by Rajesh Khanna, who at the time was at the apogee of his acting prowess.
Vishy’s cricketing debut was an exercise in philosophical meditation. He experienced the entire spectrum of Yin and Yang in his very first international outing. Facing Ian Chappell’s Australians at Kanpur, the diminutive batsman clocked an ignominious duck and while he was dejectedly making his way back to the pavilion was pelted, literally, with matkas and jeers. But in the very next innings he atoned for his lapse by scoring an astonishing 137 and getting the very same crowd to give him a standing ovation. This incident also encapsulated in surgical precision, the fickle minded nature of the Indian spectator who is fueled by expectation and lubricated by emotion. As Vishy writes, “Kanpur was an unforgettable experience. Four days of anxiety and uncertainty, followed by two outlook-altering, path-charting days of unfettered joy. I wasn’t just a Test cricketer now, I was a Test centurion too.”
Vishy also holds a record that might be unique for any cricketer in general, and batsman in particular. Every time, he notched a hundred in a Test Match – he accumulated 14 of them – India either went on to win the game or draw it. India never lost a single Test Match in which Vishy recorded a ton! This master batsman played for India 91 times in Test matches making 6,080 runs. He has also been conferred with the Padma Shri and Arjuna Awards for his contribution to the sport. Vishy was also involved in various administrative capacities following his retirement from the game.
“Wrist Assured” is as subtle, supple, and succinct as the seraphic 97 he scored in Chepauk, on 11th January 1975 against a brutally fast and hostile West Indian fast bowling attack led by the redoubtable Andy Roberts. “What 97?” you ask. Well it will take an entire book, if not more to describe that stunning and surreal piece of artistry alone!
April 15, 2022
The wristy genius Gundappa Vishwanath pens an autobiography that is a throwback to times when Indian cricket teams went without playing international matches for nearly 2 years. The ghost writer R.Kaushik ensures that the self-deprecating humour and the cricketing nous of Gundappa shine through. The book steers clear of controvery and sticks to faithful regurgitation of cricketing scores and techniques. Despite being a genius, Gundappa ended up with only a decent test average of 41.9. The book mirrors the author's cricketing record by being merely good with some flourishes of greatness.
July 2, 2025
Decent book. Simple and easy to read but it would have been better if there were statistics in place to appreciate the genius of the original Little Master of Indian cricket, GR Vishwanath
April 15, 2025
This autobiography is very similar to Playing it my way, in its style. The hero batsman is so full of himself. Explains every obscure event in full detail.
As much as I love reading cricket biographies, I'd give this a pass
As much as I love reading cricket biographies, I'd give this a pass
May 6, 2024
Enjoyable recollection of a career. Some very good insights into handling the pressures of expectations and the contest.
December 20, 2022
what a shit book to stave off your slump
January 5, 2023
WRIST ASSURED: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY (Kindle Edition) by Gundappa Vishwanath with R. Kaushik- Autobiography- The book traces the journey of Gundappa Vishwanath, one of the finest batsmen to have ever played for India. Gundappa Vishwanath was born on 12 February 1949 in Bhadrawathi, Mysore State. He played cricket with tennis ball in the dusty by-lanes of Bengaluru. Senior Sports Journalist R. Kaushik has helped to trace his journey from lanes to some of the iconic stadiums across the cricket playing nations around the globe. Vishy was a true artist with the willow and his stroke play, particularly the late cut was a delight to watch for cricket lovers. Equally at ease both against pace and spin, Vishy scored runs when it really mattered the most for India. He along with the great Sunil Gavaskar formed the backbone of India’s batting line-up throughout the 1970’s decade. On the invitation of Madhavrao Scindia, Ex-Maharaja of Gwalior, I have seen him play at the Scindia School Grounds. Four fielders placed at slips could not field the square cut ball when he faced pacers and other medium pace bowlers there. In this match, MAK Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar, EAS Prassana, ML Jaisimha, Salim Durrani participated. Spectators clapped for Vishwanath on each shot. Salim Durrani was the star batsman and bowler of this match. As batsman, he hit the ball for a six at the place where the spectator called for Six. Pranks about this match about dacoits arriving, covering the eyes of EAS Prassana and tying him with a rope and others have been narrated on various cricket books.
Vishwanath has been a Test captain, chairman of selectors, manager of Indian cricket team, ICC match referee and coach at the National Cricket Academy. Vishwanath has played many roles in his illustrious cricketing career with equal ease. In the book, author narrates that “The charismatic Tiger Pataudi, my first skipper, was a massive influence on my career. It was at his insistence that I made my Test debut against Australia at Kanpur in 1969,” But, Vishy’s international debut saw both agony and ecstasy in his very first Test. The 20-year-old debutant scored a duck in his first innings but followed up with 137 in the second. The same crowd that had hurled matkas on his way back in the first innings rose as one to celebrate his century. From being chief villain, Vishy quickly became the hero of the crowd. He learnt his first important lesson – nothing succeeds like success. “Kanpur was an unforgettable experience. Four days of anxiety and uncertainty, followed by two outlook-altering, path-charting days of unfettered joy. I wasn’t just a Test cricketer now, I was a Test centurion too,” he fondly remembers. The day after the game, Vishy got a telegram from the legendary actor Raj Kapoor. It said, ‘Congratulations, young man’. “I was over the moon. I hadn’t met him, but I knew he was a great cricket enthusiast. Even today, I am grateful to Raj Kapoor for the sweet gesture which meant the world to me. It’s a pity I never got to meet him, ” writes Vishwanath. In fact, Vishy is the only cricketer to score a double century on his first-class debut and a century on debut in a Test match. “More than 50 years on, I still can’t find the words to describe how much security and confidence the 137 instilled in me. Just like the 230 on Ranji debut had swept away most of the thorns in my path, my Test debut performance was the catalyst for what I consider a smooth ride in international cricket,” recalls Vishwanath. Author is a Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee. Vishwanath went on to represent India in 91 Tests scoring 6,080 runs including 14 hundreds and was part of Indian team at the 1975 and 1979 Cricket World Cup. His patented stroke, the square cut with the eyes firmly on the ball, fetched him a vast proportion of his runs. “While the square cut was my signature stroke, I enjoyed bringing the wrists into play and driving the ball wide of mid-on. I reckon more than 4,000 Test runs came through the square cut. It was a stroke born out necessity,” he says. Vishwanath was also part of India’s famous away test wins against the West Indies and England in 1971 under the leadership of the legendary Captain Ajit Wadekar. He says, “Ajit was a phenomenal leader who played a big part in our emergence as a strong Test force. He was an excellent batsman in his own right, and his man-management skills were exemplary. He had a host of established players to feed off – Jai (M.L. Jaisimha), Dilip (Sardesai), Pras (Erapalli Prasanna), Salim (Durrani) – as well as young group that included Sunil (Gavaskar), Ekki (Eknath Solkar) and myself. Ajit didn’t impose himself, nor was he insecure when surrounded by such giants as Jai.” For young aspirants of cricket, this is an interesting book. It is a good read book for readers of all age groups.
Vishwanath has been a Test captain, chairman of selectors, manager of Indian cricket team, ICC match referee and coach at the National Cricket Academy. Vishwanath has played many roles in his illustrious cricketing career with equal ease. In the book, author narrates that “The charismatic Tiger Pataudi, my first skipper, was a massive influence on my career. It was at his insistence that I made my Test debut against Australia at Kanpur in 1969,” But, Vishy’s international debut saw both agony and ecstasy in his very first Test. The 20-year-old debutant scored a duck in his first innings but followed up with 137 in the second. The same crowd that had hurled matkas on his way back in the first innings rose as one to celebrate his century. From being chief villain, Vishy quickly became the hero of the crowd. He learnt his first important lesson – nothing succeeds like success. “Kanpur was an unforgettable experience. Four days of anxiety and uncertainty, followed by two outlook-altering, path-charting days of unfettered joy. I wasn’t just a Test cricketer now, I was a Test centurion too,” he fondly remembers. The day after the game, Vishy got a telegram from the legendary actor Raj Kapoor. It said, ‘Congratulations, young man’. “I was over the moon. I hadn’t met him, but I knew he was a great cricket enthusiast. Even today, I am grateful to Raj Kapoor for the sweet gesture which meant the world to me. It’s a pity I never got to meet him, ” writes Vishwanath. In fact, Vishy is the only cricketer to score a double century on his first-class debut and a century on debut in a Test match. “More than 50 years on, I still can’t find the words to describe how much security and confidence the 137 instilled in me. Just like the 230 on Ranji debut had swept away most of the thorns in my path, my Test debut performance was the catalyst for what I consider a smooth ride in international cricket,” recalls Vishwanath. Author is a Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee. Vishwanath went on to represent India in 91 Tests scoring 6,080 runs including 14 hundreds and was part of Indian team at the 1975 and 1979 Cricket World Cup. His patented stroke, the square cut with the eyes firmly on the ball, fetched him a vast proportion of his runs. “While the square cut was my signature stroke, I enjoyed bringing the wrists into play and driving the ball wide of mid-on. I reckon more than 4,000 Test runs came through the square cut. It was a stroke born out necessity,” he says. Vishwanath was also part of India’s famous away test wins against the West Indies and England in 1971 under the leadership of the legendary Captain Ajit Wadekar. He says, “Ajit was a phenomenal leader who played a big part in our emergence as a strong Test force. He was an excellent batsman in his own right, and his man-management skills were exemplary. He had a host of established players to feed off – Jai (M.L. Jaisimha), Dilip (Sardesai), Pras (Erapalli Prasanna), Salim (Durrani) – as well as young group that included Sunil (Gavaskar), Ekki (Eknath Solkar) and myself. Ajit didn’t impose himself, nor was he insecure when surrounded by such giants as Jai.” For young aspirants of cricket, this is an interesting book. It is a good read book for readers of all age groups.
January 28, 2023
If you probably ask cricket fans from 1970s to name their favourite Indian batsman, it is probable that many will opt for G.R.Vishwanath or ‘Vishy’ even over Sunil Gavaskar, for the sheet elegance, brilliance and tenacity that he brought to Indian cricket. Gavaskar himself has admired Vishy’s batting exploits and been a great fan of his ‘bat play’. So what made him tick?- this autobiography co-authored with R.Kaushik provides a wonderful insight into the man, the player and his life.
Vishy is embedded in Indian cricket memory as the ‘The Little Maestro’, and while he is remembered for his silky touch and his square cut, what we must remember equally is his significant contributions to ensure that India didn’t lose- in fact it is a great record that whenever he scored a century, India didn’t lose any of the Tests and often made stellar contributions to Indian wins.
The book starts off memorably with a gathering conceived by his wife and son, to celebrate his 70th birthday- an occasion wonderfully graced by his friends and families- a milestone event in his life. Vishy then takes us back to his childhood- moving to Bangalore, being caught up by the cricket bug, his joy and excitement just to touch his hero- Neil Harvey, the development of his game through tennis ball cricket and others. He defines his 1st first class innings where he scores a double century as a career changing moment- it inspired him and made him belief in himself.
The influence of Tiger Pataudi in Vishy’s life is quite evident from the time of his selection to the team and his subsequent support throughout. One of the best chapters of the book- on Tiger’s Trail describes a trip to Ooty he made with Tiger and spent around 15 days just enjoying as a person, a trip that he mentions as something that gave him great confidence as a person.
Another pitfall that the book smartly avoids is a recital of tour-by-tour history of his cricketing career. Instead it focussed on key events, people and takes some topics- like fitness, captaincy, his style of play, admired players which allows him to share his viewpoints quite well, and often contrasting with today’s cricketing life. The book also keep the tone witty, non-preachy, nor like a diatribe against any individuals, cricketing styles while sticking to Vishy’s views strongly. The photographs many from his personal collection add an amazing nostalgic feeling to his journey, I specially enjoyed the one with Gavaskar balancing their feet on the boundary, and the humorous way it has been captioned.
This book written now, much later than usual in Vishy’s journey reads just very easily like reflections on his life and cricket which are inexorably linked, and not written to settle scores, or only from commercial purpose.
This is an absolutely wonderful addition to the Indian cricket writing library and a book that I truly enjoyed. An absolute must- read for all cricketing fans, as assured as his Vishy- just go for it, for a leisurely weekend reading!!
Vishy is embedded in Indian cricket memory as the ‘The Little Maestro’, and while he is remembered for his silky touch and his square cut, what we must remember equally is his significant contributions to ensure that India didn’t lose- in fact it is a great record that whenever he scored a century, India didn’t lose any of the Tests and often made stellar contributions to Indian wins.
The book starts off memorably with a gathering conceived by his wife and son, to celebrate his 70th birthday- an occasion wonderfully graced by his friends and families- a milestone event in his life. Vishy then takes us back to his childhood- moving to Bangalore, being caught up by the cricket bug, his joy and excitement just to touch his hero- Neil Harvey, the development of his game through tennis ball cricket and others. He defines his 1st first class innings where he scores a double century as a career changing moment- it inspired him and made him belief in himself.
The influence of Tiger Pataudi in Vishy’s life is quite evident from the time of his selection to the team and his subsequent support throughout. One of the best chapters of the book- on Tiger’s Trail describes a trip to Ooty he made with Tiger and spent around 15 days just enjoying as a person, a trip that he mentions as something that gave him great confidence as a person.
Another pitfall that the book smartly avoids is a recital of tour-by-tour history of his cricketing career. Instead it focussed on key events, people and takes some topics- like fitness, captaincy, his style of play, admired players which allows him to share his viewpoints quite well, and often contrasting with today’s cricketing life. The book also keep the tone witty, non-preachy, nor like a diatribe against any individuals, cricketing styles while sticking to Vishy’s views strongly. The photographs many from his personal collection add an amazing nostalgic feeling to his journey, I specially enjoyed the one with Gavaskar balancing their feet on the boundary, and the humorous way it has been captioned.
This book written now, much later than usual in Vishy’s journey reads just very easily like reflections on his life and cricket which are inexorably linked, and not written to settle scores, or only from commercial purpose.
This is an absolutely wonderful addition to the Indian cricket writing library and a book that I truly enjoyed. An absolute must- read for all cricketing fans, as assured as his Vishy- just go for it, for a leisurely weekend reading!!
January 1, 2023
Are you a diehard cricket fanatic? Do you follow every match, across formats, irrespective of whether India is playing in it or not? Do you still follow what is happening in Ranji Trophy matches? Are you a connoisseur of cricket statistics? Does Indian cricketing history and tales of matches much before 1983 when India started making its presence felt interest you? You are likely to enjoy this book if you answered yes to every one of these questions.
Gundappa Vishwanath or Vishy as he was fondly called, was a household name and a cricketing icon in the 70s and 80s. The honorific of 'Little Master' adorned him as much as it did Sunil Gavaskar, and much later, Sachin Tendulkar. With glorious achievements under his belt, followed by years in cricket administration and a fruitful period as Chairman of the National Selection Committee, one would naturally expect much from his autobiography.
What Vishy delivers with this book is an account of every single series he played for India; he details the matches, the players of that era, the small incidences that happened in every match - the ball that rose unexpectedly or turned sharply, the square cut or the flick, the drive of the rising ball. And above all, his own journey, his passion for cricket and how that began, the people who helped him along the way and great nuggets about legends who have graced the game, including Tiger Pataudi, Sunny, the spin quartet, Rohan Kanhai, Sir Viv Richards among others. All something that a hard coded cricket fanatic would love.
The problem with the book however, is that it is just that. It is a recounting of match after match, series after series. It is a book that reads like a first hand account - a well written, first person newspaper report, if you will - of these matches and series. Where it fails is that it just doesn't get past its cricketing intensity. It does not open up the people behind the legends.
The details of the matches overwhelms. There are too few instances of what happens behind the scenes, too few glimpses into how a strategy for a match played out, too few human stories. And that is where it becomes a book that will be loved by a very small audience.
Gundappa Vishwanath or Vishy as he was fondly called, was a household name and a cricketing icon in the 70s and 80s. The honorific of 'Little Master' adorned him as much as it did Sunil Gavaskar, and much later, Sachin Tendulkar. With glorious achievements under his belt, followed by years in cricket administration and a fruitful period as Chairman of the National Selection Committee, one would naturally expect much from his autobiography.
What Vishy delivers with this book is an account of every single series he played for India; he details the matches, the players of that era, the small incidences that happened in every match - the ball that rose unexpectedly or turned sharply, the square cut or the flick, the drive of the rising ball. And above all, his own journey, his passion for cricket and how that began, the people who helped him along the way and great nuggets about legends who have graced the game, including Tiger Pataudi, Sunny, the spin quartet, Rohan Kanhai, Sir Viv Richards among others. All something that a hard coded cricket fanatic would love.
The problem with the book however, is that it is just that. It is a recounting of match after match, series after series. It is a book that reads like a first hand account - a well written, first person newspaper report, if you will - of these matches and series. Where it fails is that it just doesn't get past its cricketing intensity. It does not open up the people behind the legends.
The details of the matches overwhelms. There are too few instances of what happens behind the scenes, too few glimpses into how a strategy for a match played out, too few human stories. And that is where it becomes a book that will be loved by a very small audience.
January 12, 2025
Top class biography of a lesser God of cricket. In this age of self promotion, we miss out on knowing about and admiring these gems of India.
Many of my peers will laugh at my "lesser known." After all, wasn't Indian batting about Gavaskar-Vishwanath?
We all remember that Vishy was the crisis man, the man who saved the country, the man who scored big when India was in a spot, the man with the most artistic square cut.
It's only after this book that I watched 6 minutes of his batting. I suggest you do, too.
He is the inventor of the Helicopter shot.
He was the dasher before Srikkanth, the wristy player before Azhar, and many more.
How many of us know of the senior positions he held in cricket and the stellar contributions he made as a selector?
Not I, because he was the antithesis of the publicist celebrity of today. The quiet performer who was a gentleman of integrity. He always walked when out, and yet was called a cheat by some Aussies.
He is one of the few brave captains to call back an opposing player wrongly given out, and was awarded by removal from captaincy!
Read this book for all this, for a beautiful life, and the best written autobiography of a sportsperson.
Many of my peers will laugh at my "lesser known." After all, wasn't Indian batting about Gavaskar-Vishwanath?
We all remember that Vishy was the crisis man, the man who saved the country, the man who scored big when India was in a spot, the man with the most artistic square cut.
It's only after this book that I watched 6 minutes of his batting. I suggest you do, too.
He is the inventor of the Helicopter shot.
He was the dasher before Srikkanth, the wristy player before Azhar, and many more.
How many of us know of the senior positions he held in cricket and the stellar contributions he made as a selector?
Not I, because he was the antithesis of the publicist celebrity of today. The quiet performer who was a gentleman of integrity. He always walked when out, and yet was called a cheat by some Aussies.
He is one of the few brave captains to call back an opposing player wrongly given out, and was awarded by removal from captaincy!
Read this book for all this, for a beautiful life, and the best written autobiography of a sportsperson.
March 31, 2022
Wrist Assured, the autobiography of Vishy is much like his batting - free flowing, full of character and simplicity personified. The book traces the journey of Vishy from his tennis ball cricket adventures in 1957 and ages 65 years to 2022. We get first hand information about his celebrated career that starts with his magical 200 on FC debut and ends up in his last FC match against Mumbai. Vishy takes us through the history of 20 years with great insider information and insights. He is very effusive in praise of his heroes, colleagues and the generations that followed. He is simple and sincere in presenting his mindset and his reaction to the two impostors. His biography makes wonderful reading like the way his batting made wonderful viewing. Travelling back to the 70s & 80s was a very refreshing experience. Thanks Vishy Sir for this lovely effort and Hearty appreciations to Kaushik for the partnership.
May 8, 2022
Well written but could have been more interesting
G. R. Vishwanath has always been my favorite cricketer when I was growing up and so I started reading this book quite eagerly. It's fairly well written with some nice turns of phrases. It gives a detailed account of the cricketing career of the legend without becoming a boring narrative about all the innings he played. The preparation for some significant matches, his equation with some of the other cricketing legends, his thoughts about his own batting and interesting incidents about some matches are some of the highlights of this book. What I was disappointed in was the lack of any insights into his personal life - his favorite foods, movies, hobbies, etc. I would have loved to know how he met his wife and his life with his family. That would have made this book much more interesting.
G. R. Vishwanath has always been my favorite cricketer when I was growing up and so I started reading this book quite eagerly. It's fairly well written with some nice turns of phrases. It gives a detailed account of the cricketing career of the legend without becoming a boring narrative about all the innings he played. The preparation for some significant matches, his equation with some of the other cricketing legends, his thoughts about his own batting and interesting incidents about some matches are some of the highlights of this book. What I was disappointed in was the lack of any insights into his personal life - his favorite foods, movies, hobbies, etc. I would have loved to know how he met his wife and his life with his family. That would have made this book much more interesting.
November 27, 2022
A Good read but.....
Growing up listening to the cricket commentary Vishy was my ideal and my hero back in school. I remember, almost 5 decades ago, listening to his 97no against Andy Roberts and Co. I also remember seeing his picture in the sports page the next day's newspaper while reading about his innings.
I often wondered about Vishy the person and while Gavaskar hasn't really disappeared from public view post retirement, the same is not the case with Vishy. I eagerly read this book to know more about Vishy than just the cricketer. While there are some details, I wish there would have been more elaboration on Vishy is, his relationships, his personal anecdotes etc.
Still, a good read, but incomplete....
Growing up listening to the cricket commentary Vishy was my ideal and my hero back in school. I remember, almost 5 decades ago, listening to his 97no against Andy Roberts and Co. I also remember seeing his picture in the sports page the next day's newspaper while reading about his innings.
I often wondered about Vishy the person and while Gavaskar hasn't really disappeared from public view post retirement, the same is not the case with Vishy. I eagerly read this book to know more about Vishy than just the cricketer. While there are some details, I wish there would have been more elaboration on Vishy is, his relationships, his personal anecdotes etc.
Still, a good read, but incomplete....
October 17, 2022
Although I hadn’t seen one the finest batsman from our state, it was great to read his autobiography.
Few of stories/memories mentioned in this books can give you a sense that you have read it in ‘Sunny Days’, but the view point is very different as that of Sunil Gavaskar.
Surprisingly, I was expecting the mention of the prank that fellow cricketers played on GRV sir, but seemed like he just wanted to not remember that again 😊..
Few of the aspects kind of bored me, 1-2 chapters, but it picked the pace back when the stories related to cricket, on and off the field came back..
Overall a good one time read.
Few of stories/memories mentioned in this books can give you a sense that you have read it in ‘Sunny Days’, but the view point is very different as that of Sunil Gavaskar.
Surprisingly, I was expecting the mention of the prank that fellow cricketers played on GRV sir, but seemed like he just wanted to not remember that again 😊..
Few of the aspects kind of bored me, 1-2 chapters, but it picked the pace back when the stories related to cricket, on and off the field came back..
Overall a good one time read.
July 8, 2024
A beautiful book by one of the finest middle order batsmen in Indian cricket history. Between 1971 and 1979, Vishy was Sunny Gavaskar's equal as the co-anchors of Indian batting. The book has some wonderful anecdotes, including the almost unknown fact that Vishy was given out to a bump-ball (with the ball bouncing after hitting the bat before being adjudged 'caught' by Brearley) as India were close to chasing down 439 at the Oval in 1979. There is a wonderful story about Tiger Pataudi taking Vishy along to his magnificent Ooty bungalow for a holiday after the 1973 home series against England. But mostly, there are marvellous vignettes of the cricket of the 1970s. Worth every written page!
April 8, 2022
GRV The man and the artist
I have followed cricket closely from the age of 10. Wonderful narrative of GRV the man and the artist as a wristy batsman.
The anecdotal style is captivating. I almost lived through the career of GRV which I followed closely. Wish the book is translated into Indian languages as well and prescribed as a text not only for budding cricketers but for sportsman/sportswomen as well. It is the attitude which personifies the achievements of GRV who is so humble and down to earth.
I have followed cricket closely from the age of 10. Wonderful narrative of GRV the man and the artist as a wristy batsman.
The anecdotal style is captivating. I almost lived through the career of GRV which I followed closely. Wish the book is translated into Indian languages as well and prescribed as a text not only for budding cricketers but for sportsman/sportswomen as well. It is the attitude which personifies the achievements of GRV who is so humble and down to earth.
August 21, 2022
1.5 stars. Superficial and poorly written. The book provides very few real insights into Cricket in the 70s and 80s in India and none into his life. Not worth reading.
Similar to that awful movie, 83 (for a comparison of how to tell an inspirational sporting story, please watch Fire in Babylon which is about the mighty West Indies Cricket team of the late 70s and 80s. 83 and this book are tripe compared to that)
Similar to that awful movie, 83 (for a comparison of how to tell an inspirational sporting story, please watch Fire in Babylon which is about the mighty West Indies Cricket team of the late 70s and 80s. 83 and this book are tripe compared to that)
June 19, 2022
For all Vishy lovers.
Frank and balanced autobiography. He could have a few incidents from his personal life too. His fans would love to know how he met Kavita.
Frank and balanced autobiography. He could have a few incidents from his personal life too. His fans would love to know how he met Kavita.
October 2, 2022
More interesting incidents should have been covered. Very little about his personal life.
Read
August 19, 2023I’m still reading this autobiography of GR Vishwanath.
September 4, 2023
WRIST ASSURED (AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY)
BY GUNDAPPA VISHWANATH
An eminently readable book if you are a diehard cricket fan.It is an autobiography by one of the greatest cricketing stalwarts of all time , Gundappa Vishwanath or Vishy, as he is fondly referred to in the cricketing circles. The book is a memorable journey through the cricketing years of Vishy when he played active cricket between 1969 and 1986. Co-authored by Senior sports journalist R. Kaushik, the book gives us a graphic description of how Vishy evolved from being an awkward, unsure debutant to becoming one of the greatest players of all time. Talking about the nuances of cricket, this book has been aptly titled, “wrist assured”, as Vishy is best known for his exquisite stroke play particularly his late cut which was a delight to watch for cricket lovers. How he came to developing a strong wrist and forearms is another story. The credit goes to Tiger Pataudi about whom he has gone into raptures and to whom he is indebted to for having given him more than a chance to play for India.Year 1969. All was not bed of roses for Vishy, as he went for a nought on his debut in the Test match at Kanpur while facing Australia. The crowd gave vent to their anger as they hurled “matkas” at Vishy as he left the field crestfallen. Tiger and his other teammates (especially Eknath Solkar, whom he refers to as Ekki ), rallied around him and helped him overcome the heebie-jeebies. Vishy went onto score over a century in the second innings. The same was true of many a cricketing great like Don Bradman, who got out on a duck in their debut. Like them, there was no looking back for Vishy. In fact, the Green Park at Kanpur came to be known as “Vishy’s green”, where he always went on a scoring spree. If interested in mundane statistics, he has represented India in 91 tests and scored 6080 runs. It is peculiar but true that India never lost a test match whenever he made a century. He was more than a part of the Indian team in 1971, when they created history by returning victorious from the Caribbean and also from England by beating them in their home ground under alien conditions, for the first time. This was no mean achievement then , as the players were exposed to some lethal pace bowling, when the helmet had not made an appearance and there was no proper protective gear. The book is full of interesting cricketing detail, but it doesn’t tell us much about Vishy the person. He remains an enigma. In fact the book begins with the 70th birthday bash of Vishy, a surprise party planned by Kavitha and his son and Sunil Gavaskar, his brother-in-law. But this event gives the reader just a glimpse of his off-field, personal life , which otherwise remains largely untouched. The book breathes life into cricket as a game in the bygone era and gives us an idea of the rapport that Vishy shared with some of the players like Prasanna, Bedi and Chandra. It must have taken some persuasion for him to come out and write this valuable autobiography, considering his shy and reserved personality. There is however no doubt that he is a stylish player and who could weave magic with the willow. However short in stature, he is a towering personality in the game of cricket and he has come a long way “from the dusty bylanes of Bengaluru to some of the most iconic stadiums across the globe”.
BY GUNDAPPA VISHWANATH
An eminently readable book if you are a diehard cricket fan.It is an autobiography by one of the greatest cricketing stalwarts of all time , Gundappa Vishwanath or Vishy, as he is fondly referred to in the cricketing circles. The book is a memorable journey through the cricketing years of Vishy when he played active cricket between 1969 and 1986. Co-authored by Senior sports journalist R. Kaushik, the book gives us a graphic description of how Vishy evolved from being an awkward, unsure debutant to becoming one of the greatest players of all time. Talking about the nuances of cricket, this book has been aptly titled, “wrist assured”, as Vishy is best known for his exquisite stroke play particularly his late cut which was a delight to watch for cricket lovers. How he came to developing a strong wrist and forearms is another story. The credit goes to Tiger Pataudi about whom he has gone into raptures and to whom he is indebted to for having given him more than a chance to play for India.Year 1969. All was not bed of roses for Vishy, as he went for a nought on his debut in the Test match at Kanpur while facing Australia. The crowd gave vent to their anger as they hurled “matkas” at Vishy as he left the field crestfallen. Tiger and his other teammates (especially Eknath Solkar, whom he refers to as Ekki ), rallied around him and helped him overcome the heebie-jeebies. Vishy went onto score over a century in the second innings. The same was true of many a cricketing great like Don Bradman, who got out on a duck in their debut. Like them, there was no looking back for Vishy. In fact, the Green Park at Kanpur came to be known as “Vishy’s green”, where he always went on a scoring spree. If interested in mundane statistics, he has represented India in 91 tests and scored 6080 runs. It is peculiar but true that India never lost a test match whenever he made a century. He was more than a part of the Indian team in 1971, when they created history by returning victorious from the Caribbean and also from England by beating them in their home ground under alien conditions, for the first time. This was no mean achievement then , as the players were exposed to some lethal pace bowling, when the helmet had not made an appearance and there was no proper protective gear. The book is full of interesting cricketing detail, but it doesn’t tell us much about Vishy the person. He remains an enigma. In fact the book begins with the 70th birthday bash of Vishy, a surprise party planned by Kavitha and his son and Sunil Gavaskar, his brother-in-law. But this event gives the reader just a glimpse of his off-field, personal life , which otherwise remains largely untouched. The book breathes life into cricket as a game in the bygone era and gives us an idea of the rapport that Vishy shared with some of the players like Prasanna, Bedi and Chandra. It must have taken some persuasion for him to come out and write this valuable autobiography, considering his shy and reserved personality. There is however no doubt that he is a stylish player and who could weave magic with the willow. However short in stature, he is a towering personality in the game of cricket and he has come a long way “from the dusty bylanes of Bengaluru to some of the most iconic stadiums across the globe”.
May 4, 2023
It's still green in my memory how myself and my classmates stood in front of a hotel near our school to listen to the commentary of the Kanpur test at Green Park in 1969, where our great Vishy was making history. Studying in the same(Fort) High School where Vishy had also studied, we were more thrilled and felt proud that our school Vishy was batting so well and finally scored a century on debut. As we got the news that Vishy was playing well in the 2nd innings, just after the school we went to the nearest hotel to listen to the ball by ball commentary and listened standing all the way until he was out. We felt as though we had achieved something because this feat was so enormous and we were happy and fortunate that we studied in the same school as the legendary GRV.
The book is fantastic and I am really astounded how GRV remembered in detail so many interesting incidents/ conversations right from his childhood to date. During those days when good facilities and coaching/ returns were unavailable, his achievements are Himalayan. It shows the genius in him. The incidents have been narrated beautifully with a judicial sprinkling of humour. Overall the book keeps you enthralled throughout. Thanks to the author for bringing out so many facets of the master Vishy.
Only missing link was some details about his marriage and family. Otherwise I really enjoyed the book and felt it's one of the best books in cricket.
The book is fantastic and I am really astounded how GRV remembered in detail so many interesting incidents/ conversations right from his childhood to date. During those days when good facilities and coaching/ returns were unavailable, his achievements are Himalayan. It shows the genius in him. The incidents have been narrated beautifully with a judicial sprinkling of humour. Overall the book keeps you enthralled throughout. Thanks to the author for bringing out so many facets of the master Vishy.
Only missing link was some details about his marriage and family. Otherwise I really enjoyed the book and felt it's one of the best books in cricket.
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