After events off the pitch had prompted an early termination of the last series between India and Pakistan, it would be two years before the two countries resumed hostilities on the cricket pitch. This time it was Pakistan’s turn to tour, arriving in India to play five Test matches and six ODIs.
The series was noteworthy from an Indian standpoint, as it was the last Test series for Sunil Gavaskar.
The action began with the first ODI in Indore. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl, and soon India in trouble at 29/3. Stand-in captain Ravi Shastri led the recovery, with 50. There were also late runs from Chandrakant Pandit (33*) and Madan Lal (38). However, 196/7 from 45 overs was a slightly disappointing score, as it subsequently proved.
Pakistan were given a good start by opener Mudassar Nazar, who made 44. Although wickets fell regularly after that, they were always in touch with the required run rate. In the end they reached their target for the loss of seven wickets with an over still to be bowled.
Next it was on to Madras (now Chennai) for the first Test match. Pakistan again won the toss, this time choosing to bat.
Opener Shoaib Mohammad set the tone for the match in which bat dominated ball with 101. Javed Miandad then scored 94 before being run out. Captain Imran Khan made an undefeated 135, putting on 112 for the eight wicket with Wasim Akram, before the latter was dismissed for 62. Imran declared the innings on 487/9.
The Indian batting, though, stood up to the challenge posed.
Gavaskar and K. Srikkanth put on exactly 200 for the first wicket and. After Srikkanth was out for 123 and Gavaskar for 91, Mohinder Amarnath and Dilip Vengsarkar combined for a third-wicket stand worth 185. Amarnath went on to make 89 before being was run out, while Vengsarkar was stumped four short of his century. Late runs from Shastri and Kiran More helped India reach 527/9 before the decision was taken to declare their innings.
With no prospect of a result, Pakistan opted for batting practice instead, making 182/3 in their second innings before the bails were removed for the last time. Rizwan-uz-Zaman and Miandad both made half centuries.