Viswanath's hand was broken by a delivery from Holding
Twenty-six years ago, India and West Indies went into the fourth and final Test at Kingston, Jamaica with the series tied 1-1.
But what should have been an exciting series climax flopped, thanks to some fierce West Indian bowling and some questionable calls from Indian skipper Bishen Singh Bedi.
Three Indian batsmen were injured while facing the fiery West Indian pace attack, two more, they claimed, in the field, and the tourists crashed to a 10-wicket defeat.
"I still remember that Test when I and four other Indian batsmen could not bat in the second innings," says Viswanath.
"The West Indian bowlers were fully exploiting the conditions to their favour. It was really good fast bowling."
India scored 306 runs in the first innings, but their batsmen paid the price.
"The wicket had been re-laid with little cricket played on it, so it was almost a new pitch," Viswanath recalls.
"It was bouncy. The ball was getting a varied bounce and sometimes deliveries were very quick and short."
Declaration
Anshuman Gaekwad was the first Indian batsman to retire, hospitalised after ducking into what he expected to be a bouncer from Michael Holding, having made 81.
Viswanath says his only worry as he went out to replace the opener was over whether he would be able to make runs, rather than his own safety.
But, batting at number four, he had only eight runs in his account when he was gloved a Michael Holding delivery to leg slip, and broke his hand in the process.
"That particular delivery was a very good one, very quick and short-pitched," he says.
"It struck my hand and Holding also got me out. It was disappointing.
"My hand was broken and I was unable to play for the next six weeks, let alone in the rest of the match."
Brijesh Patel was the only batsman not to be invalided off by Holding, jumping down the wicket looking to slog Vanburn Holder and gaining a top-edge into his mouth.
And it was at that point that Bedi chose to declare, making sure that neither he nor Bhagwat Chandrasekhar would have to face the bowling.
India allowed the home side to take an 85-run first-innings lead, and both Bedi and Chandrasekhar hurt their hands attempting to make return catches.
But it was still a surprise that, with the team 97 for eight, neither of the two were available to bat.
The West Indies were left needing 13 runs to take the series, and reached their target in just 11 balls.
Not scared
Viswanath cannot recall any particular reaction from Holding straight after he had been hit.
"It was not meant really to hit and hurt me," he says.
"But he was apologetic when I told him two days later that I wouldn't be able to bat for six weeks."
Viswanath was to face the West Indies on one more series, scoring two centuries as India clinched a six-Test home series 1-0 in 1978/79.
But Holding was not part of that side as he was involved in Kerry Packer's World Series cricket.
"This incident didn't scare me because I faced other good fast bowlers of that period and scored against them later on," Viswanath says.
"I didn't play Holding again but I could have faced him easily if I had to."
A similar scene beckons as India begin the final Test in Jamaica, knowing that a win would bring their first Test series victory away from Asia in 16 years.
And Viswanath is confident that India have the batting depth, and the bowling attack, to deal with the conditions this time around.
"The wicket at Kingston is very true and fast. I am sure that spectators will see a good game," he says.
India will be grateful, though, that there is no bowler of Holding's calibre in the hosts' ranks.