Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman turns a year younger today as he celebrates his 47th birthday. The wristy, right-handed batsman from Hyderabad forms a pivotal part of an average Indian cricket romantics’ memory. From the 281* run odyssey at the Eden Gardens against a loaded Australian bowling attack to battling back spasms in Mohali to earn a last-wicket victory — Laxman saw India through one of its most illustrious periods in cricketing history.
Laxman featured in 134 Tests for India and scored 8481 runs at an average of 45.97 accompanied by 17 centuries and 56 half-centuries. While the Hyderabadi specialist scored heavily across the globe, he took a special inkling to a ground named Eden Gardens where he became the only player to have scored 1000 runs with an average above 100. His essay of 281* is embedded in the Indian cricket folklore and is considered one of the turning points of the game in India when the team started believing in its prowess and miracles.
Australians won the first Test
It was in the month of March in 2001, with the winters receding across the country that the mighty Australians came knocking for a three-match Test series. The visitors won the first Test, on the back of Matthew Hayden’s century and the Indian side was immediately chastened by a large section of media for surrendering rather tamely.
Come second match at Kolkata, the pressure was immense to make a comeback. However, the Australian side, not one to take the foot off the gas, piled a mountain of 445 in the first innings. Attempting to clear the deficit, the Indian batting order crumbled and collapsed on the paltry score of 171 with Glenn McGrath picking 4 wickets for just 18 runs.
Following on, India off to a shaky start
Those days, teams usually enforced the follow-on and Australia did the same. With the match and series on line, India was once again off to a shaky start and struggling at 115-3. Laxman had already arrived at the fall of the first wicket. He steadied the ship slightly with Ganguly as the team reached 232/4 when the latter departed.
In walked the duo that was about the change the complexion of the game and in turn Indian cricket. Dravid-Laxman bided their time and got to the end of the third day without any further damage. Australians would have fancied their chances of wrapping things by Lunch the next day and winning the series. However, nothing of that sort materialised.
Laxman started day four on 109 while Dravid started on 7. Through the course of the day, the Laxman-Dravid duo added huge 376-runs for the 5th wicket. Laxman scored 281 off 452 balls with 44 fours. Dravid scored 180 off 353 with 20 fours. The duo batted an entire day without losing a single wicket as Australians toiled hard in front of an increasingly delirious Eden gardens’ crowd. Eventually, India declared at 657-7, setting a target of 384 for the Aussies.
2️⃣0️⃣ years ago today, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted throughout the fourth day of the Eden Gardens Test, turning the tables on Australia 👏
The pair's first feat was overcoming injury and illness to even take their place in the XI https://t.co/qk9VF4fpYU pic.twitter.com/OQaUAaOLuO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 14, 2021
Harbhajan came to the party in the fourth innings by spinning his magic. Registering figures of 6/73, the off-spinner dismisses Australia on the score of 212, as the hosts claimed the honours by a margin of 171 runs. Laxman rightfully own the Man of the Match award as Indian went on to win the third Test and the series.
Laxman top runner for the NCA post
While Laxman’s partner-in-chief during the marathon innings at Eden Gardens set to don the cap of coach for the Indian side after the T20 World Cup, it is being insinuated that Laxman is the top choice of heading the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru by BCCI. NCA is the supply line of cricketers for the Indian team and the head of the academy is expected to work in close coordination with the national coach.
It is understood that Dravid and Laxman, who have had a close bond since the time they played for South Zone and subsequently for India for close to a decade and a half, would be the perfect choice. It would be a dream come true for Indian cricket fans if these two work simultaneously.
The Indian side is going through a turbulent time after losing its two games in the ongoing T20 World Cup. With experts and former cricketers demanding a major revamp in the playing style, it is expected that sweeping reforms will be enforced. And there are no better two names to take Indian cricket forward than these two who ushered the cricketing revolution in the country. Here’s to a Very Very Special Laxman, who hopefully takes the reins and joins his batting partner, and yes, Happy Birthday once again!