Biography Of VVS Laxman-The Wristy Genius
VVS Laxman is a former Indian cricketer from Hyderabad. The wristy genius, Laxman was known for exquisite timing and like his role model Mohammed Azharuddin, he too was known for his magical wrist-work.
Laxman was awarded the Padma Shri award, India's fourth highest civilian award from the Government of India in 2011. Laxman scored over 8000 runs in test cricket at a healthy average of over 45. This included 17 centuries and 56 half centuries.
Laxman's parents are noted Physicians and he was also enrolled as a medical student but he later opted cricket as a career over medicine. However, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree on 4 February 2015 by Teri University, New Delhi.
He played many vital knocks for India at crunch situations specially in test cricket that helped the team to won or save the match. His most notable innings was of 281 against Australia at Kolkata in 2001. During this innings, he shared a world record partnership of 376 runs along with Rahul Dravid. The partnership is still a record in 3rd innings of a test match for any wicket during a winning cause. His innings was ranked sixth in Wisden's list of 100 great Test innings in the history of the game.
"When he walks in, whether you are batting in the middle or sitting in the pavilion and a wicket has fallen, he brings calm to the whole dressing room. I, personally, get a feeling of calm and solidity, not because Laxman will always score but because you know that he will never let you down in terms of effort: you know that he is there and he will pull his weight. There is no higher compliment. You know he has the requisite quality, and that he can read situations well. He has turned up in every circumstance: bad pitches, good pitches, when setting a total or after the opposition has piled up a big score." - Rahul Dravid in a column after Laxman had played his 100th Test
VVS Laxman Statistics
Test Career: Matches - 134
Runs - 8781, Avg. - 45.97, 100s - 17, 50s - 56, HS - 281
Wickets - 2, Avg. - 63, BB - 1/2, Catches - 135
ODI Matches: Matches - 86
Runs - 2338, Avg. - 30.76, 100s - 6, 50s - 10, HS - 131
Wickets - 0, BB - 0/5, Catches - 30
First Class: Matches - 267
Runs - 19730, Avg. - 51.64, 100s -55, 50s - 98, HS - 353
Wickets - 22, Avg. - 34.27, BB - 3/11, Catches - 277, Stumping - 1
List A Cricket: Matches - 173
Runs - 5078, Avg. - 34.54, 100s - 9, 50s - 28, HS - 131
Wickets - 8, Avg. - 68.50, BB - 2/42, Catches - 74
VVS Laxman Achievements
- 2011 - Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award
- 2001 - Arjuna Award, by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sports
- 2002 - Wisden Cricketer of the Year
