Cricket Gloves are not just Cricket Gloves when they adorn the magical hands of Gundappa Rangnath Viswanath… and especially when the occasion was Vishy's last test match against Pakistan at Karachi on Feb 4th, 1983. And to add to it, the hand-gear is personally autographed by the masterful batsman. Now that makes a perfect cricket memorabilia!

The proceeds of the auction are to be donated to CHAMPS Foundation, an initiative by Sunil Gavaskar to support sportspersons in need of a financial aid.

Gundappa Viswanath was a true artist with the willow - his stroke play, particularly the late-cut executed with lumberjack-strong wrists, was nothing less than divine. He was equally adept against pace and spin - waiting on the ball against the fast men and using twinkling footwork against the spinners - and he came good when it truly mattered. Though statistics don't convey it, 'Vishy' was every bit as crucial as Sunil Gavaskar to the Indian team of the 1970s. Right from his century on debut in 1969-70, he performed better when the chips were down than any other Indian batsman. Especially memorable was an unbeaten, match winning 97 against a rampaging Andy Roberts at Madras in 1974-75. Viswanath often excelled on pitches others found difficult - witness his match winning 124 out of 255 on another fiery, bouncy Madras wicket against West Indies in 1978-79, and innings of 83 and 79 against New Zealand on a Christchurch green top in 1975-76. He played the game in its true spirit: a century had little value to him if it didnąt contribute to the team cause and he disputed an umpire’s decision only once, recalling Bob Taylor in the Golden Jubilee match against England in 1979-80. It cost him the Test, one of only two where he led India, but to 'Vishy', it mattered more that the game should be played fair.

CHAMPS is the acronym for Caring, Helping, Assisting, Motivating and Promoting Sportspersons. A brainchild of cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, the aim of the CHAMPS Foundation is precisely what it spells out. Apart from helping international sportspersons of yesteryear who are in financial difficulty, this organization also lends a helping hand to needy and promising youngsters in any field of sport. Apart from Sunil Gavaskar, the other trustees of this foundation are Mrs. Marshniel Gavaskar, GR Vishwanath, Khalid Ansari and Nana Chudasama.