In the pantheon of Indian cricket, VVS Laxman as symbol of elegance, resilience, unselfish brilliance

By Harsh Thakor*

On November 1st, legendary Indian cricketer VVS Laxman celebrates his 50th birthday. Known for his elegance, Laxman turned impossible matches on their heads with a style that captivated cricket fans worldwide. He wielded his bat like an artist’s brush, finding gaps on the field with surgical precision, creating innings as meticulously as a sculptor carves a masterpiece. Born in Hyderabad, Laxman inherited the stylistic lineage of local icons ML Jaisimha and Mohammad Azharuddin, blending it with a grace reminiscent of Gundappa Viswanath.

At his peak, Laxman’s artistry sometimes even overshadowed Sachin Tendulkar’s powerful strokeplay. His on-side game matched his idol Azharuddin’s, but Laxman’s range on the off-side and his trademark on-drive made him uniquely versatile. He could caress a ball to either side with almost magical wristwork, cutting late and square with a fluidity that resembled a blossoming lotus.

Career highlights

Laxman first demonstrated his brilliance with a stunning 167 against Australia in 1999–2000, a knock filled with flowing drives, cuts, hooks, and pulls. However, it was his 281 against Australia in the iconic 2001 Kolkata Test that cemented his place in cricketing folklore. Partnering with Rahul Dravid, he crafted one of the most memorable innings in Test history, taking India from the brink of defeat to an extraordinary victory. This performance was pivotal, as India was reeling from the shadow of a match-fixing scandal. His stunning dismantling of Shane Warne on a turning pitch exemplified attacking batsmanship at its finest.

Laxman’s feats against Australia didn’t stop there. During the 2003-04 Australia tour, he scored two centuries, including one in a match-saving 303-run partnership with Dravid at Adelaide. His 178 in Sydney, though overshadowed by Tendulkar’s 241, captivated with its exquisite shot-making.

Laxman’s partnerships with Dravid and others helped establish India’s formidable middle order alongside Tendulkar, Sehwag, and Ganguly throughout the 2000s. In Mohali in 2010, his unbeaten 73 while battling back spasms led India to a nail-biting one-wicket victory against Australia, again showing his penchant for rescuing India from crisis situations.

Despite his Test success, Laxman faced setbacks, including his omission from the 2003 World Cup squad. Upon his return, he scored five ODI centuries, proving his adaptability. Against Australia, he became the second Indian batsman after Tendulkar to amass over 2000 runs.

Legacy and style

Laxman ended his career with 8,781 Test runs in 134 matches, averaging 45.97 with 17 centuries. His legacy is marked not just by numbers but by the artistry and elegance he brought to the game, along with his consistency in challenging conditions worldwide. His ability to farm the strike, especially in fourth-innings run chases or while batting with the tail, ranks him among India’s most unselfish batsmen.

Yet, despite his artistry, Laxman lacked consistency at times, often getting out to reckless shots. He never scored a century in England, and his game against express pace was sometimes questioned, especially compared to earlier Indian greats. In ODIs, his slower running between wickets and limited fielding abilities were seen as liabilities.

Laxman’s impact went beyond runs and records; his humility and grace left an indelible impression on teammates and opponents alike.

MS Dhoni remarked, "The whole team will miss you VVS. One of the best human beings I have ever met in my life. Personally, I will really miss you, Lachu bhai."

Rahul Dravid remembered him for his grace under pressure: "I will remember him most for his balance while batting, his ability to keep smiling whatever the situation, and his tenacity to keep bouncing back."

In the pantheon of Indian cricket, VVS Laxman stands as a symbol of elegance, resilience, and unselfish brilliance, an artist whose finest performances often came when the stakes were highest.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Concentration of wealth in India at levels 'comparable to colonial times', says new report

By Jag Jivan A new report published in March 2026 by the Centre for Financial Accountability and the Tax The Top campaign paints a stark picture of deepening economic disparity in India, documenting a concentration of wealth that it argues is “comparable to colonial times.” Titled Wealth Tracker India | Tax the Top. Close the Gap , the compilation presents data from the World Inequality Database and the Hurun Rich List to illustrate the meteoric rise of the ultra-wealthy alongside the stagnation and debt burdens of the majority.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

Beneath the stone: Revisiting the New Jersey mandir controversy

By Rajiv Shah A recent report published in the British media outlet The Guardian , titled “Workers carved the largest modern Hindu temple in the west. Now, some have incurable lung disease,” took me back to my visits to the New Jersey mandir —first in 2022, when it was still under construction, though parts of it were open to visitors, and again in 2024, after its completion.

Search This Blog