10 facts about India’s ‘Very Very Special’ cricketer

Coming from a family of doctors, Laxman had to make a decision between a medical career and playing cricket. The Hyderabad cricketer eventually chose the willow over the stethoscope and became one of the best cricketers to have represented India.

Laxman is the great grand-nephew of former Indian president Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

He not only began his First-Class career with a duck but also his ODI journey. In fact, VVS began and ended his 86-match ODI career with a duck. He was dismissed for a three-ball duck against Zimbabwe on ODI debut in 1998. He got out for a golden duck against South Africa in his final ODI in 2006.

Laxman, who etched his name as one of the greatest players of red ball, did not have the best of starts to his Test career. He took three years to finally score his maiden Test century that came in 2000 against Australia – the opponents he would go on to frustrate on many occasions in his career.

The first part of Laxman’s name, ‘VVS’, got a new meaning after his consistent iconic performances against the Australians. Laxman once said that it was “probably” former Australian captain Ian Chappell who named him ‘Very Very Special’ Laxman.

Even though Hyderabad may be famous for its ‘Dum Biryani’, Laxman doesn’t gorge on to it, as he is a strict vegetarian. He loves the typical home-cooked food and particularly ‘rasam’ that is prepared in the typical South Indian style.

Laxman, along with David, shares the world record for the highest partnership (376 Runs) in the third innings of a Test for any wicket during a winning cause. He is also one of the six Indian Test cricketers to score 100 runs in a single session of a Test match. He also holds a record for the most number of catches (12) in a single ODI series (n the 2003-04 VB series) apart from a wicketkeeper. He shares the record with Australia’s Allan Border.

Laxman is the second Indian to score 1,000+ runs at a single ground: 1,217 runs at an average of 110.63 at Eden Gardens. But, he is the only Indian to score 1,000 or more at a single ground with an average of over 100.

He is one of those unfortunate cricketers, who have played over 100 Tests, but never got a chance to play in a Cricket World Cup.

He captained Deccan Chargers in the IPL during its inaugural season in 2008. Later, he played for the Kochi Tuskers IPL He is currently a mentor of the SRH.