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n the face of it, VVS Laxman does not seem like another 16-match winning run by the Aussies) while displaying
the most natural Twenty20 player. He has never appeared in a more expansive mood during a delightful century in the
a Twenty20 match and his batting style seems unsuited to controversial Test in Sydney at New Year.
clearing the ropes. In fact, he has hit just four sixes in 90 Test
appearances and four sixes in 86 ODIs. Whether he can now resurrect his one-day career remains to
be seen. His lack of mobility in the field (due in part to creaking
But that is only part of the story. VVS in full flow is one of the knees), and a suspicion that his batting is too one-paced, have
wonders of the modern game (unless you are one of the unlucky been the reasons that he has played almost no limited-overs
ones expected to bowl at him). Tall, willowy, possessed of cricket for India since 2004. In 2007, he was left out of both
wonderful wrists and sublime timing, he can thread boundaries the ICC World Cup and ICC World Twenty20. The day India beat
through any field and play shots that few, if any, can emulate. Australia in the Twenty20 semi-finals, he narrowly failed to take
Like Mohammad Azharuddin, his inspiration, he arouses avid Lancashire to the county championship title with a run-a-ball
passion among fans. century at The Oval.

Even the Australians, for whom Laxman has reserved many of His Indian Premier League season with Hyderabad’s Deccan
his finest performances, admit there have been times when they Chargers gave him the chance to prove that he had what it
were at a loss as to how to deal with him. In all, he has taken takes to adapt his game to more frantic demands. Agonisingly,
nine centuries off Australia, five in Tests and four in one-dayers; the outcome was inconclusive as Laxman ended up playing only
the mightiest of these innings, 281 at Kolkata in 2001, helped six games before sitting out the remainder of a disappointing
end a 16-match winning streak by Australia and remains the tournament with his side because of an injury to his right wrist.
highest Test innings played against Australia in the last 70 years. But the signs, after a slow start, were that Laxman was able to
It prompted Ian Chappell to dub him Very Very Special Laxman assert his class when it mattered.
and helped India win a game in which they had been asked to
follow-on. Opening the innings in an attempt to provide some right-handed
elegance as a counterpoint to Adam Gilchrist’s left-handed
For such a gifted player, though, Laxman has perhaps not done belligerence at the other end, Laxman began with scores of
himself full justice. Batting averages of 44.2 in Tests and 30.8 in nought, two and 16 as his side kickstarted the competition with
one-dayers suggest a grafter rather than a god, but this goes to three successive defeats. But if that raised question-marks over
the heart of the Laxman enigma. He has not always been sure his suitability for the role, he responded in style.
whether to give full expression to his strokeplaying ability, or
play the role of crisis manager. With Gilchrist, the man who replaced him as skipper, blasting
an unbeaten 109 off 48 balls against Mumbai Indians, Laxman
Outsiders have been surprised at how often India have left such calmly contributed 36 not out off 26 at the other end en route to
an outrageous talent out of their side. But the selectors have a 10-wicket victory. He then made 48 off 34 deliveries in the next
also not always seemed sure what they want from him. Early in match against Kings XI Punjab, before hitting 52 off 44 in the
his career, Laxman lost his Test place after saying that he did not last-ball defeat to Bangalore Royal Challengers. Each innings
wish to open the innings (shortly after scoring 167 as an opener). had brought him more runs than the last, which is why his wrist
Later, he became the man to be left out if India wanted to play injury was such a cruel piece of timing.
an extra bowler.
By the end of the tournament, it was a case of what might have
But he now seems more skilled at adapting his game to differing been for a player who retained his worldwide affection and

situations. He contributed careful seventies to the recent Test proved that you didn’t necessarily need to bludgeon the ball
victories over Pakistan in Delhi and Australia in Perth (to end over the rope to justify your place in Twenty20 cricket.

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