Sunil Gavaskar’s brilliant 221 almost took India to a historic win on English soil — but a bold chase ended in a nervy draw
India's 1979 tour of England had already taken unexpected turns. After a disappointing World Cup exit—including a surprising loss to Sri Lanka—the four-match Test series didn't bring much comfort. India faced an innings defeat in Birmingham, managed to secure a draw at Lord's, and lost nearly three days to rain in Leeds. The final Test at The Oval was their last opportunity to turn things around.
What happened next was a complete surprise—no one, not even the English players, saw it coming.
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England batted first after winning the toss and finished Day One at 245/5. India limited them to 305, with a disciplined bowling effort that took the last five wickets for 60 runs. Yet, India's response was weak. The top order collapsed, and the team was dismissed for 202, with only Gundappa Viswanath (62) and Yajurvindra Singh (43)* offering resistance.
Geoff Boycott led England's second innings with a steady 125. England declared at 334/8, setting India a challenging target of 438 in 500 minutes on the final day. It seemed impossible. But then, Gavaskar stepped out with determination.
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Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan commenced their innings with purpose. No panic. No rush. Just steady accumulation. They scored 137 runs in three hours, rotating strike and punishing anything loose. The opening stand grew to 213 before Chauhan was dismissed for 80, with India requiring 225 more in three hours.
Gavaskar accelerated, pulling and driving smoothly. With Dilip Vengsarkar, he added a swift 153 for the second wicket. Vengsarkar's 52 brought the target within reach — 73 needed off 12.5 overs. The unthinkable suddenly seemed possible.
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Then came the turning point. With the match still finely balanced, India shuffle the batting order. Kapil Dev, known for his power-hitting, walked in at No. 4 and lasted just five balls. He departed without scoring.
Next, India promoted Yashpal Sharma, leaving the experienced Viswanath in reserve. The move backfired. Gavaskar, after a near-flawless 490-minute masterclass, chipped one to mid-on and was out for 221. With 49 runs still needed from 8 overs, India required cool heads. They did not find them in time.
Viswanath came in at No. 6 and scored a brisk 15 from 11 balls. But he fell attempting to hit over the infield. Sharma followed after a scratchy 19. Yajurvindra and skipper S. Venkataraghavan were dismissed cheaply as England sensed a twist. Ian Botham, with a tight late spell, took 3 for 17 and nearly sealed the Test.
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India entered the final over needing nine runs with two wickets remaining. They chose caution. Bharath Reddy hit a boundary but couldn't do much more. India scored just six runs from five balls. The match ended in a draw. England retained the series 1–0.
However, the crowd rose in applause for Gavaskar, who had come within a stroke of rewriting history. His innings of 221 remains one of the most extraordinary fourth-innings efforts in Test cricket, not because it secured the win, but because it dared to attempt.
