When it comes to the greatest ever fightbacks in Test cricket history, much is made of Kolkata 2001 where India won after being made to follow on. But 25 years earlier, on April 12, India won a match that could rival even the scenes at Kolkata. It was a day on which it created a world record that stood the test of time for a good two decades – the highest ever successful chase in a Test match.
It was the third Test of India's tour of the West Indies and it was already 1-0 down. Till the last day of that Trinidad game, India was playing catch up – being bowled out for only 228 in response to West Indies' 359 in the first innings, and then allowing Clive Lloyd's team to rack up 271/6 in the second innings.
India's target for an improbably victory was 403. Never before had such a massive score been chased down successfully.
But India did not give up hope. As Bishen Singh Bedi recounts in the video above, the initial aim was to ensure that the top three batsmen were still available when the second new ball was taken. That proved to be the case – Sunil Gavaskar played a stellar anchor role, scoring 102 along with Mohinder Amarnath, who scored 85. But it was Gundappa Viswanath's brilliant 112 which gave India one of its most famous wins ever.
"It was a mammoth task," said Clive Lloyd, reflecting on the game. "But they applied themselves and won the game."
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