 Prior
to the Australian series Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman,
the stylish Hyderabadi batsman was just a struggling
cricketer trying to cement his place in the team. But
the Australian series has completely changed the fate
of Laxman as well as that of the Indian cricket. For India,
a batsman was reborn and for Laxman-a permanent place
in the team for some time to come. Rising like a phoenix,
Laxman proved to the world that he is not an ordinary
cricketer. In rewriting the record books as the highest
individual scorer for India at Eden Gardens, Laxman
made clear that he is a batsman with exceptional skills.
In crafting one of the all-time
great innings, as Steve Waugh also acknowledged,
Laxman took a giant stride in his attempt to show the
world his batting potential. At the start of the series,
he was unsure of his batting skills. And when he clicked,
the world appreciated. The way he batted against the mighty
Kangaroos not only cemented his place in the team but
also contributed immensely for the team's win against
one of the powerful cricketing sides in the game of cricket.
That he did it in such a grand style speaks for the man's
amazing temperament and talent. Laxman's tally in the
three test series was 503 runs with 281 as the highest
score.
 The
genial Laxman might well have ended up a forgotten man
of Indian cricket had he not concentrated on excelling
in domestic cricket. It was tough on Laxman to keep proving
his credentials season after season, but he did not give
up. That Laxman went on to become India's highest individual
scorer in Test cricket was a confirmation of the man's
awesome talents. He got an opportunity and he grabbed
it with both hands. A disappointed Eden Gardens had waited
as India followed on. But Laxman changed the face of Indian
cricket with that record breaking epic knock. Apart from the record breaking Eden Gardens
knock, the 167 he scored in the third Test against Australia
at Sydney in January 2000 will always be something
very special for him.
 Laxman
has openly acknowledged that he owes a lot to ML
Jaisimha and Md Azharuddin. And indeed there
are shades of those two stylists in the manner he bats,
especially in his elegant drives. Though he dispelled
any theories that he could not bat aggressively in putting
together that dream knock at Sydney, Laxman basically
remains a batsman for whom patience, timing and technique
are of utmost importance. Prior to that he had scores
of 96 against Australia at Calcutta in 1998, two half
centuries in the West Indies in 1997 when he stood up
to the pace of Ambrose and Walsh with
a fair degree of conviction and a brilliant 67 against
Pakistan at Calcutta in 1999. Laxman may lack some of
the glamour that is associated with some of his team
mates but he prefers to be what he is - a quietly efficient
and determined cricketer.
Born in 1974 to Dr V Shantaram and Dr Sathyabhama,
Laxman had a special liking for cricket since his childhood.
The younger of two brothers, Laxman studied at Little
Flower High School in Abids and later at St Mary's
College in Himayathnagar. He was a great cricket
fan and spent all his pocket money on sports magazines
and cricket equipment. His mentor in sports was his
uncle, RB Krishnamohan, who put him through the
basic nuances of cricket culture and practice. "Laxman
has a penchant for high scores. He is extremely focused
and updated his techniques regularly," said Krishnamohan
about Laxman. According to Laxman's father, an orthopaedic
surgeon, "My son had worked hard for years to make
this mark. I think one of his biggest strengths is his
will power".
 Laxman
who is gearing up to face the future tournaments was
recently honoured by Hyderabad Cricket Association.
In a grand felicitation function held at the Gymkhana
Grounds, the Hyderabad Cricket Association presented
the Indian cricket star VVS Laxman, rupees one
lakh and a silver plaque for his exhilarating exploits
against all the powerful Australians in the recently
concluded series. The function was attended by more
than a thousand people, Mohammad Azharuddin and Mrs
ML Jaisimha being the prominent ones apart from
the chief guest, Minister for Home and Cinematography,
Mr T Devender Goud.
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