No this is not a blog on Harry Potter. This is a blog on a person who wielded the cricket willow as if it was a magic wand. The first time we see the Potter clan perform a spell at school, they are taught to move their wands in such a way that it performs, first a swish and then a flick. Watching this person bat, we also saw the 'swish' of his uncannily short back-lift and the majestically brilliant 'flick' of the stumps, between mid-wicket and mid-on, leaving the fielders as mere spectators as the ball raced to the boundary.The person being spoken about here is special, very very special. In short he is VVS, VVS Laxman. And when he batted, we were left spellbound.
Vengipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman, or VVS Laxman, as we all know him, announced his retirement on Saturday, bringing to an end a glorious 16 year long career. From the very beginning, he had to struggle to make his place in the national team, having been dropped and recalled on several occasions. His 167 against Australia at Sydney proved a point to the selectors, cementing his place in the side. And then came that fateful test match at the Eden Gardens in 2001. Faced with the might of the Aussies, who were on a 16 test match winning streak, no less, faced with the improbable task of rescuing the Test match after being forced to follow-on, he produced probably the most beautiful innings in Indian cricket history. His 281in that innings still stands as the milestone around which Indian cricket turned the corner into big game players. Two full days he reigned on that hallowed turf. Two full days of spectacular stroke play, epitomised by the flick off the stumps through mid-on, to the boundary, led to an innings which could only be described as magical. He tormented Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and the likes. And in true fairy-tale fashion, India went on to beat Australia in that match, with 7 wickets falling in the final session of play. And I was THERE. I watched the magician bat through day 3, dismissing every bowler who came in his way with sheer non-chalance of champion. The Australians came up another name for him. For them VVS stood for Very Very Special, and on this I agree with them whole-heartedly.
As his career progressed, he went on to become a third and fourth innings specialist, anchoring the innings on countless occasions. At a point it seemed almost inevitable that while wickets tumbled all around him, one could count on VVS to come up with a innings which would save and often lead us to victory. The wristy, stylish batsman lead India to numerous wins, with his capability to produce the goods overseas being his biggest asset.
The way this special player bid goodbye is another example of how icons are forgotten once they grow 'old'. Perhaps ours is the only nation where there is a retirement age in sports! This is the sad reality and this mindset doesn't seem like changing any time soon. Yes he seemed to be fading away at the end of his career. But at the end of the day, we will always remember his career as one which brought us immense joy. He was a part of the famous quartet of Indian cricket which led us to become world beaters. He is the third pillar of the four to bow out, in his own terms. He was a part of the generation which made us world beaters. Very Very Special indeed....
Vengipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman, or VVS Laxman, as we all know him, announced his retirement on Saturday, bringing to an end a glorious 16 year long career. From the very beginning, he had to struggle to make his place in the national team, having been dropped and recalled on several occasions. His 167 against Australia at Sydney proved a point to the selectors, cementing his place in the side. And then came that fateful test match at the Eden Gardens in 2001. Faced with the might of the Aussies, who were on a 16 test match winning streak, no less, faced with the improbable task of rescuing the Test match after being forced to follow-on, he produced probably the most beautiful innings in Indian cricket history. His 281in that innings still stands as the milestone around which Indian cricket turned the corner into big game players. Two full days he reigned on that hallowed turf. Two full days of spectacular stroke play, epitomised by the flick off the stumps through mid-on, to the boundary, led to an innings which could only be described as magical. He tormented Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and the likes. And in true fairy-tale fashion, India went on to beat Australia in that match, with 7 wickets falling in the final session of play. And I was THERE. I watched the magician bat through day 3, dismissing every bowler who came in his way with sheer non-chalance of champion. The Australians came up another name for him. For them VVS stood for Very Very Special, and on this I agree with them whole-heartedly.As his career progressed, he went on to become a third and fourth innings specialist, anchoring the innings on countless occasions. At a point it seemed almost inevitable that while wickets tumbled all around him, one could count on VVS to come up with a innings which would save and often lead us to victory. The wristy, stylish batsman lead India to numerous wins, with his capability to produce the goods overseas being his biggest asset.
The way this special player bid goodbye is another example of how icons are forgotten once they grow 'old'. Perhaps ours is the only nation where there is a retirement age in sports! This is the sad reality and this mindset doesn't seem like changing any time soon. Yes he seemed to be fading away at the end of his career. But at the end of the day, we will always remember his career as one which brought us immense joy. He was a part of the famous quartet of Indian cricket which led us to become world beaters. He is the third pillar of the four to bow out, in his own terms. He was a part of the generation which made us world beaters. Very Very Special indeed....
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