VVS Laxman 44th Birthday: A Lookback at Very Very Special 281-Run Innings by the Stylish Hyderabadi Batsman vs Australia (Watch Video)
It was a very, very special inning from VVS Laxman! It didn’t only change the course of the match, but the innings induced much-needed confidence in Indian cricket and became a cornerstone of other monumental wins after that!
Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman was born on November 1, 1974, and will be celebrating his 44th birthday, on Thursday. The former Indian cricketer is fondly called ‘Very Very Special’ by his teammates and fans across the globe. Going by his nickname, VVS has indeed been a rare and unique talent to serve the Indian cricket.
VVS Laxman is known for rescuing the Indian team from the jaws of defeat on a number of occasions. The lower-order batsman has played a lot of match-saving innings and formed formidable partnerships to thwart the looming loss!
The aggressive right-handed batsman is best-known for his innings of 281 runs against Australia. VVS scored the-then highest individual score by an Indian batsman in a Test match. Not only did it turn out to be a match-saving inning, but a match-winning knock after India were asked to follow-on in the game.
As the stylish Hyderabadi batsman turns 44 today, we bring you back the special memories of Eden Gardens, when VVS Laxman along with Rahul Dravid helped India record (only the third-ever) win in Test cricket after being asked to follow-on.
Watch Video of VVS Laxman's 281-Run Innings Against Australia at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2001:
The spectacular innings broke the then record of Sunil Gavaskar (236* runs), and it remained to be the highest score for an Indian batsman until Virender Sehwag smashed a triple hundred (309 runs) in Multan against Pakistan in 2004.
The win also stopped Australia’s juggernaut of 16 consecutive Test wins and denied Steve Waugh’s men their ‘final frontier’. It was a very, very special inning from a talented batsman. It didn’t only change the course of the match, but the innings induced much-needed confidence in Indian cricket and became a cornerstone of other monumental wins after that!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 01, 2018 11:31 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).