Even the most fanatic of the devotees of Sachin Tendulkar would agree that he was not the best captain of India, however the best thing that have happened in his tenure inarguably should be the inclusion of VVS Laxman in Indian Cricket team.  India went ahead to win the series against the Proteas where Laxman made 51 on his debut in second innings and showed the promise of the lot to come. I still remember him chanting mantras while facing the likes of Donald and Pollock when India toured South Africa later that year. Laxman always made big runs in domestic circuit playing longer innings and this helped him immensely in the years that followed making him the most vital player under crucial circumstances.

Watching Laxman bat you would be forgiven for thinking Cricket to be an art for his pristine stroke making always makes sense and the elegance and grace with which the shot is executed was always a delight. He was a batsman for the purists whose impeccable repertoire has all the shots in the book that were played with his characteristic flare. His 69 against Australia helping India win the test match in Mumbai on a dust bowl and the 96 against South Africa in 2010 on a green top in Durban were the some of his best knocks where he made look batting easier than it really was in the most difficult and trying of the circumstances and scored important runs. His feet movement may appear a bit lethargic at times but the sweet sound when the ball hits the bat and reaches the boundary made the cycle complete, perfect and a visual treat.

No article about Laxman would be complete without a mention of the 281 against the Aussies in Kolkata for it has changed the way Test Cricket was played and seen in India completely and for the good of the team. It was as perfect a David Vs Goliath as can ever be imagined as India took on the might of Australians trailing by 294 and following on. It underscored the importance of Test Cricket in India and is hugely instrumental as an inspiration in India’s rise to become the World No 1 Test team. No Cricket Lover can forget the day as Laxman and Dravid walked off the field unbeaten and the image continues to inspire youngsters all over the country not only for the obviously phenomenal Cricketing achievement but also as the emblem of perseverance and hard work ending in appropriate results.

Another lingering moment of his illustrious career was against the Aussies again as Laxman admonished quite visually (which was very unlike him) for not having taken a run. It was the last wicket and he was batting along with a runner to get India home in a brilliant Test Match at Mohali. It meant he took pride in performing against the best and also valued the success of the team along with his performance. It would not be entirely farcical to say that not many of the Indian batsmen could have pulled that game off.

Among the other skills that separate him from other Indian batsmen, the significant one was the level of comfort he had against the short ball which many of the modern Indian cricketers lack. He seems to have all the time in the world pulling the ball in front of the wicket or hooking from his shoulders and he makes them look effortless exuding a grace which can only be called Laxmanesque. Along with Dravid he formed a formidable slip cordon if not the best for India and was effective for most parts of their career. Though agility was not the best of the virtues that Laxman can boast of, his anticipation for catches has made up for it more often than not. That horrific look of utter disbelief when he was bowled by a late swinging delivery was always a guilty pleasure though it seems to suggest that even the best of them are human.

Thank You Laxman for all the moments of pleasure you have given us in your glorious career and especially for THAT innings against Australia which has made me watch every subsequent test match that India played with a hope of that miracle all over again.