VVS Laxman—the tireless crusader
As I sat and watched India’s run-making machine VVS Laxman churn out yet another special at the Eden Gardens, his 17th in Tests, the opponents, the West Indies literally felt the chill run down their spine. It was the winter of 1996 when the Indian crowd witnessed a young VVS Laxman walking into the middle during the first Test against South Africa at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad and ended up scoring just 11 in his first innings at the highest form of the game.
However, the young Hyderabadi got into the groove quickly in the second innings of that very Test, top-scoring with a fluent 51 off 125 balls that contained six supremely crafted shots all round the park. His patience to wriggle the side out of trouble made everyone sit and take notice. Over the years, the wristy magician has single-handedly turned the tide in India’s favour and continued to do so in the second Test at Bridgetown, Barbados, against the West Indies.
What works for this legendary right-hander is his immense gift of hand-eye coordination. He put this amazing ability to good use on Tuesday when he bided his time and immediately after the lunch, went for the offensive. What it did was put the WI on the defensive, thereby giving India some breathing space after being reduced to 38 for 4 in the first session of the Test. His innings in Barbados was a serenely majestic one which was dolloped with craft and artistry. The opulence of Laxman’s willowship can, on more occasions than one, morph his aficionados of steely resolve that is a key aspect of his batting. Statistics may not bat for the stylist, who just has 16 Test centuries and 50 half-centuries and is easily one of the most disposable members of the Indian team.
He may not be the quickest between the wickets and neither does he want to steal the single to rotate the strike. He did what he always does—-take his team out of trouble. He did not counter-attack, infact he batted normally. More importantly, he showed no ‘visible’ signs of discomfort, a lesson for all those who think batting in crisis situation is a child’s play.
The very fact that he does his duty (which is to bat) with utmost humbleness is what sets Laxman apart from others in the herd.
