VVS Laxman announces retirement!!!

By Francis Saldanha
Bellevision Media Network

18 August 2012: A time comes when even the greatest have to bow out at the right time. The aesthetic quality of VVS Laxman brings in his laid back Hyderabadi style with magic weaving wrists is undoubtedly majestic. A master of playing under pressure, he perfected the art of shepherding the tail and was the hero in most famous India wins in the last decade. Whether it was negotiating a vicious turning track or the bouncing ball, Laxman adapted his game easily.

The 37-year-old batsman, who formed the core of India’s famed middle-order that had Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, ruled world cricket for almost 16 years with his wristy stroke-making. He scored 8781 runs with 17 Test centuries with highlight being the epic knock of 281 against Australia where India won the Test match after being made to follow on. He has a Test average of 45.97. Laxman was not a regular in India’s ODI team and played 83 matches for 2338 runs with six centuries. The most disappointing aspect of his glorious career would be his failure of not playing in any of the four World Cup editions during his career span.

 

On his day one of the most elegant batsmen to ever wield the willow & a true sportsman to boot. I remember that for most Indians that monumental 281 at Calcutta in 2001 was the innings they’ll remember best, but my own personal liking Laxman’s highlight came a year earlier at Sydney, when he put one of the best Aussie attacks of all time to the sword during that dazzling run-a-ball 167 runs. Since he batted at No.6/5 for 80% of his career, his records are moderate. But in team India’s perspective has the best and unmatchable records for match winning and match saving runs for India. I would go on to say VVS is the greatest of all Indian batsman of all era in this regard. He was very useful in slips and has taken many many matches winning catches, so no regrets that he was not an outstanding fieldsman.

Apart from the last couple of series, Laxman has been an irreplaceably key component who should be credited for shouldering the giant burden of carrying his team through during a few nail-biting Test victories which helped India win a few series and thus achieve number one ranking. He also has been one of the most stylish and attractive Indian batsmen to watch when he is in full flow in addition being a reliable slip fielder. His commendable off field demeanor makes him a great role model for any youngster. I wish his form didn’t drop and he could still play a year or two but, well, it was good while lasted. Thanks for the memories.

His stats don’t reflect his immense value to the Indian team he saved his best for tough situations against top teams and seemed to get bored without a challenge. A real sign of his greatness for me is that one of the two most dominant Test sides ever in the history of the game, the Aussies, feared and respected him as much as if not more than they did to Tendulkar. Glenn McGrath admitted not knowing where to bowl to Laxman coming from a legend of the game, that’s praise that eclipses anything any of us have to say. It’s very clear from the last two series that his reflexes are slowing. He did not dominate the bowling or even play a fighting knocks for which he had no answers. There are plenty of talented youngsters waiting for their chance. Time for Laxman to ride off into the sunset with his aura undiminished. Like Ponting, Tendulkar is now the experienced core around which a new Team India must be built.

One of the greatest players according to me might not have huge hundreds but scores when the team requires the most. How many matches did he bail India out of defeat or took the team to victory. Laxman is one of the best and attractive batsmen of this era. People always criticize whenever there is a failure. We should not forget that it was total team failure on those eight tests (except for Dravid on England tour and Kohli for Australia). He has performed everywhere. Whatever the people say he was the crisis man for India.

If you go by numbers and value then Laxman along with Dravid and Gavaskar are the top three batsmen ever. This is a lesson for non performers like others in the Indian team to follow footsteps of players like Laxman and Dravid. Laxman and Dravid were unsung heroes of India for many years. They scored when it mattered. Laxman has won more matches for India than other cricketers combined. Sadly, Laxman is a man of few words and modesty bit like Dravid and Inzamam Ul Haq and he never got the credit when it was due. Laxman’s retirement will live a big hole in Indian batting and it is very worrying to note that Indian selectors are not doing anything. Suresh Raina is a sitting duck against fast bowlers. Rohit Sharma is a clueless over rated batsman. Gambhir is a flat track bully with Dhoni. People say India’s bowling is one of worse in the world, but reality is that India’s batting is even worse.

What upsets me most is the mere fact that he (VVS) has to prove his worth time and again while some of his ’peers’ had luxury of time to recover from lean patch. Anyways, one would realize the worth of something only after it’ is lost.
Laxman has served Indian cricket very well. He has taken the correct decision. Everybody has to retire one day or the other. Just because there is not a good replacement doesn’t mean the person should keep playing. Let the younger generation start taking up the pressure instead of hiding behind legends. Time has come for that. India vs. England later in the year would be interesting though.

VVS is indeed very very special. He has been a great servant of Indian cricket and wish him all the very best in whatever he decides to do in the future. VVS it was pleasure watching him play, great batsman, wonderful cricketer, and a gentleman. I feel sad to read stories of people commenting about your presence in the team. Your great innings rank among some of the best ever you played.

I admired him for those 4th innings chases when conditions were toughest, selfless team man and a fine ambassador for India. VVS is indeed very very special. He has been a great servant of Indian. He will be missed. He made many breathtaking innings enjoyed watching him play. It’s sad to see great Indian batsmen like Dravid and Laxman go but it’s all about the next generation. Superb player and elegance personified. His great innings rank among some of the best ever played. Who suspect on Greatness of VVS should ask Indian Cricket fans and Australia Cricket Fans, they can describe him in a better way.

 

With Laxman’s retirement, only Sachin Tendulkar will remain among the golden generation of Indian cricketers after the retirements of Anil Kumble, Ganguly and Dravid. So we now have back-to-back retirements of two greatest match-winning batsmen (Rahul and now VVS) ever that played for India. He has been a great servant of Indian cricket
End of a great era and will be sorely missed. I wish him all the best in his post retirement life! Farewell, Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman, you’ll be missed far beyond the borders of India.