Top 21 Interesting Facts about VVS Laxman – India’s Unsung Hero

Top 21 Interesting Facts about VVS Laxman – India’s Unsung Hero: Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman, better known as VVS Laxman, is a former Indian Test cricketer and now a well-known cricket expert. The batsman hails from Hyderabad, India and is the great grand nephew of India’s former president Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The classy batsman is known for his ability to play wristy shots with equal ease on both off-side and leg-side as well.

Laxman formed the core of India’s middle order along with Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in Test matches for the last two decades. Though, Laxman has always been an asset for the Indian Test squad, but it was only after his mammoth knock of 281, highest Test individual score at that time, against Australia at Kolkata Test in 2001 that made him world famous.

VVS Laxman has played 134 Tests scoring 8781 runs with 17 hundreds and 56 fifties averaging 46. He also represented Indian cricket team in 86 ODIs and scored 2338 runs with 6 tons and 10 half-centuries averaging around 31. As the legendary top-order batsman is celebrating his 41^st Birthday today, here are some spectacular facts about India’s Valiant, Vivacious and Spectacular – VVS Laxman.

1.Born and Brought Up: 

VVS Laxman was born on 1^st November 1974 in Hyderabad to a famous doctor family in Hyderabad. Both his father and mother are well-known doctors.

2.Century at 13 

In 1987, VVS surprised everyone when he scored his first ton against Andhra Pradesh scoring 153 in an Under-13 tournament in Vijayawada. This was an obvious indication of a legend in the making.

3.Duck in the maiden First Class innings

Laxman played his maiden first-class match against Punjab while playing for Hyderabad in the quarter-final match of 1992–93 Ranji Trophy season. Unfortunately, he could score only 0 and 17 in the match.

4.Ranji Trophy (1994-95)

Laxman came back strongly in the next season piling up 532 runs from 5 matches at an impressive average of 76 with 2 tons.

5.Memorable Under 19 Debut

Laxman played a fine knock of 88 at number six against the likes of Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee at a match against Australia U-19.

6.Test Debut

Laxman played his maiden Test against South Africa at Motera, Ahmedabad in 1996. He scored 11 and 51 in two innings of this low-scoring Test match that saw India winning it convincingly.

7.ODI Debut

The top-order right-hander made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe at Cuttack ODI in 1998 but was dismissed for a duck.

8.Ranji Trophy (1999-2000)

Following his average run streak at international outings, Laxman decided to play domestic cricket. He made a strong come back at the Ranji Season of 1999-2000 scoring 1415 runs in 9 matches at an average of 108 with 8 tons – still an unbroken record.

9.Sydney Test (1999)

India’s disastrous tour of Australia in 1999-2000 season finally saw a bright light when Laxman valiantly fought against the likes of Glenn Mcgrath and Shane Warne playing a brilliant knock of 167 at the Sydney Test.

10.Laxman’s 281 against Australia

This was the turning point in the talented right hander’s career. He played rock solid while scoring superb 281 against Australia at Kolkata test in the second innings (following-on) and piled a huge 376-run stand with Rahul Dravid that helped India win this test match.

11.Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack Honour 

Laxman’s 281 is counted as the 6^th best in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack list of 100 great test innings.

12.Wisden Honour 2002 

The stylish batsman was awarded with Wisden Cricketer of the Year award 2002 for his consistent good knocks across all formats of the game.

13.Ian Chappel’s Nickname

It was the legendary Aussie captain Ian Chappel who coined the nickname Very Very Special for Laxman after seeing him playing consistent good knocks against Australia during 2003-2004 ODI series.

14.Fourth Highest Run-Getter

Laxman’s 8781 test runs is the fourth highest test aggregate runs from India after Sachin Tendulkar (15,470 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122).

15.Amazing Against Aussies

Laxman always stood tall against the Australian bowling attack. Laxman’s 6 out of 17 test tons, and 4 out of his 6 ODI hundreds came against Australia.

16.Bright Student

VVS Laxman scored 98 % in Science in his 10^th standard examination.

17.Love for Tennis

Laxman has always been the big fan of Lawn Tennis. Boris Becker and Steffi Graf are his favorite players.

18.Doctoral Degree

VVS Laxman has received the prestigious honorary Doctoral Degree by TERI University, New Delhi earlier this year.

19.Awards and Honours

VVS Laxman has received the prestigious Padma Shri awards and Arjuna Awards for his immense contribution to cricket.

20.Astonishing Average at Eden Gardens 

Laxman hit 1217 runs at Eden Gardens in Kolkata at an astonishing average of 110.63 and becoming the only Indian to score 1000 plus runs at a single ground averaging more than 100.

21.No World Cup Match 

Despite being the backbone of India’s middle order for the last 2 decades, VVS has failed to represent India at any World Cup matches. This is the most disappointing fact about the otherwise glorious career of this classy batsman.