On this day, 1974, Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed one of the most significant moments in the history of Indian cricket.
It involved two mighty teams, and, in the opinion of some, a pair of shoes.
But first, some background.
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It involved two mighty teams, and, in the opinion of some, a pair of shoes.
But first, some background.
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Bombay had won the Ranji Trophy for 15 consecutive seasons.
For perspective, that is roughly the same as Rahul Dravid's career.
Yes, that long.
They had not lost a single match since they *conceded* one against Baroda in December 1957.
This was March 1974.
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For perspective, that is roughly the same as Rahul Dravid's career.
Yes, that long.
They had not lost a single match since they *conceded* one against Baroda in December 1957.
This was March 1974.
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Karnataka (previously Mysore) had their stars.
Prasanna and Chandra were supported by left-arm spinner K Lakshman.
Kirmani lurked behind the stumps.
In Viswanath, there was a counter to Gavaskar. Two exciting batsman in Brijesh Patel and Sudhakar Rao.
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Prasanna and Chandra were supported by left-arm spinner K Lakshman.
Kirmani lurked behind the stumps.
In Viswanath, there was a counter to Gavaskar. Two exciting batsman in Brijesh Patel and Sudhakar Rao.
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But there have been good sides in the past decade and a half.
None of them have been able to topple Bombay.
There were 22 men playing in the match. Not one of them had made their First-Class debut when the defending Ranji champion was a team other than Bombay.
That long.
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None of them have been able to topple Bombay.
There were 22 men playing in the match. Not one of them had made their First-Class debut when the defending Ranji champion was a team other than Bombay.
That long.
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Prasanna won a crucial toss. There were about 30,000 people that day (source: Guha).
Abdul Ismail got Vijay Kumar out in an unusual manner.
The ball went to Gavaskar at slip. He fumbled, but the ball stuck in his lap.
Viswanath emerged. And almost fell first ball.
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Abdul Ismail got Vijay Kumar out in an unusual manner.
The ball went to Gavaskar at slip. He fumbled, but the ball stuck in his lap.
Viswanath emerged. And almost fell first ball.
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The in-swinger hit him low on the back leg in front of middle.
Gavaskar was obviously not amused.
Waingankar wrote that the umpire's hand was slowly rising but perhaps the weight of Viswanath’s reputation made it suddenly drop down.
Viswanath had a word with Abdul at drinks:
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Gavaskar was obviously not amused.
Waingankar wrote that the umpire's hand was slowly rising but perhaps the weight of Viswanath’s reputation made it suddenly drop down.
Viswanath had a word with Abdul at drinks:
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"Sorry Abdul, I was plumb but no one walks for leg before decisions."
Viswanath scored 162 in just under six hours. He added 166 in under three hours with Brijesh (106).
The platform had been laid.
But from 281/2 just before stumps on Day 1, they were bowled out for 385.
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Viswanath scored 162 in just under six hours. He added 166 in under three hours with Brijesh (106).
The platform had been laid.
But from 281/2 just before stumps on Day 1, they were bowled out for 385.
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This was good news and bad news for Karnataka, for the wickets had gone to Shivalkar (4/94) and Tandon (4/125).
And Karnataka had Prasanna and Chandra.
But first they had to remove Gavaskar, who was in full flow.
One on-drive off Prasanna followed another.
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And Karnataka had Prasanna and Chandra.
But first they had to remove Gavaskar, who was in full flow.
One on-drive off Prasanna followed another.
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Gavaskar reached 30. 49/0.
Prasanna tossed one up again.
Gavaskar went for the on-drive. And was beaten in flight.
The ball "swerved abruptly in its flight to take the off-bail".
Gavaskar was "clapping his hand against the bat as he left the ground". (Guha)
A few quotes:
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Prasanna tossed one up again.
Gavaskar went for the on-drive. And was beaten in flight.
The ball "swerved abruptly in its flight to take the off-bail".
Gavaskar was "clapping his hand against the bat as he left the ground". (Guha)
A few quotes:
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Prasanna to Waingankar: "Sunny was a great batsman, but that particular delivery he played for a turn and lost the off-bail."
Mihir Bose: "Those who saw the semi-final with Bombay talked for days about the ball."
Venkatraman Ramnarayan: "The magical delivery of the match."
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Mihir Bose: "Those who saw the semi-final with Bombay talked for days about the ball."
Venkatraman Ramnarayan: "The magical delivery of the match."
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But let us move on, for Wadekar had arrived.
Seven seasons ago, Wadekar had slammed 323 against Chandra and Prasanna.
Karnataka (then Mysore) had slumped to an innings defeat.
Wadekar was a giant of the Ranji Trophy (4,388 at 59.29).
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Seven seasons ago, Wadekar had slammed 323 against Chandra and Prasanna.
Karnataka (then Mysore) had slumped to an innings defeat.
Wadekar was a giant of the Ranji Trophy (4,388 at 59.29).
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And his run against Mysore/Karnataka were 127, 21*, 323, 91, 29, 15 – 606 runs at 121.20.
There was the sheer stature of the man, who had led India in three series and won all three.
The danger man.
Prasanna got rid of Parkar at the other end, but Ashok Mankad settled down.
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There was the sheer stature of the man, who had led India in three series and won all three.
The danger man.
Prasanna got rid of Parkar at the other end, but Ashok Mankad settled down.
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Bombay reached 179/2 by stumps. Wadekar 53, Mankad 57.
They needed another 186 to reach the final.
They added another 19 next morning.
Then it happened.
Mankad played Prasanna to Sudhakar Rao at point.
Wadekar called for a run.
Mankad sent him back.
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They needed another 186 to reach the final.
They added another 19 next morning.
Then it happened.
Mankad played Prasanna to Sudhakar Rao at point.
Wadekar called for a run.
Mankad sent him back.
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Wadekar had an eternity to get back.
But he turned... and slipped.
Sudhakar Rao threw the ball to Prasanna. The bails were off. Wadekar did not make it.
If you have read Prasanna's autobiography, you will probably realise why getting Wadekar out was extra special to him.
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But he turned... and slipped.
Sudhakar Rao threw the ball to Prasanna. The bails were off. Wadekar did not make it.
If you have read Prasanna's autobiography, you will probably realise why getting Wadekar out was extra special to him.
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Wadekar blamed his new rubber-soled shoes: "I batted with the shoes in the nets, but hadn’t run at all. I slipped on the grass while taking a run." (interview with Waingankar)
See, I was not joking about the shoes.
Suresh Menon had a go:
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See, I was not joking about the shoes.
Suresh Menon had a go:
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"Years later he was to blame it on ‘new shoes’, and had Karnataka known then, they would have sent him a lifetime supply of shoes for authoring that turning point in the match."
But shoes or not, Wadekar walked back.
All of India outside Bombay had waited for this moment.
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But shoes or not, Wadekar walked back.
All of India outside Bombay had waited for this moment.
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For 15 years, everyone wanted to see a Bombay defeat.
Prasanna (5/117) and Chandra (4/145) did not let them down.
They bowled 107 of the 135 overs in the innings, taking out the Bombay batsmen one by one.
Sudhir Naik and Subhash Bandiwadekar got thirties.
But that was all.
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Prasanna (5/117) and Chandra (4/145) did not let them down.
They bowled 107 of the 135 overs in the innings, taking out the Bombay batsmen one by one.
Sudhir Naik and Subhash Bandiwadekar got thirties.
But that was all.
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Bombay were bowled out for 307, 78 behind.
Karnataka were 76/2 at stumps, and declared on 279/8 next day.
The target was out of Bombay's reach.
Why bother declaring?
Prasanna told Vedam Jaishankar that he "wanted to have the thrill of declaring against the mighty Bombay."
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Karnataka were 76/2 at stumps, and declared on 279/8 next day.
The target was out of Bombay's reach.
Why bother declaring?
Prasanna told Vedam Jaishankar that he "wanted to have the thrill of declaring against the mighty Bombay."
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After 15 years, Bombay were out of the Ranji Trophy.
Elsewhere, drama was unfolding in Hyderabad.
The hosts had taken an 80-run lead against Rajasthan, and had to chase 168 for a win.
They were reduced to 110/8. The ninth wicket added 44, but Rajasthan won by 12 runs.
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Elsewhere, drama was unfolding in Hyderabad.
The hosts had taken an 80-run lead against Rajasthan, and had to chase 168 for a win.
They were reduced to 110/8. The ninth wicket added 44, but Rajasthan won by 12 runs.
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Karnataka beat Rajasthan in the final in Jaipur by 185 runs.
Three thousand waited for them at the Bangalore station when they returned home. Among them was KSCA President M Chinnaswamy.
They dined with the Chief Minister.
The players were rewarded INR 1,000 each (no typo).
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Three thousand waited for them at the Bangalore station when they returned home. Among them was KSCA President M Chinnaswamy.
They dined with the Chief Minister.
The players were rewarded INR 1,000 each (no typo).
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PS
Bombay bounced back. They won the Ranji Trophy for the next three seasons.
And their first outright defeat since 1957/58 did not take place until 1977/78 (two decades!) when they were inexplicably bowled out for 83 and 42 by Gujarat.
Bombay bounced back. They won the Ranji Trophy for the next three seasons.
And their first outright defeat since 1957/58 did not take place until 1977/78 (two decades!) when they were inexplicably bowled out for 83 and 42 by Gujarat.
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