VVS Laxman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
VVS Laxman

Laxman in 1999
Personal information
Full name	Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman
Born	(1974-11-01) 1 November 1974 (age 50) Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (present–day Telangana), India
Nickname	Very Very Special
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off spin
Role	Top-order batsman
International information
National side	India (1996–2012)
Test debut (cap 209)	20 November 1996 v South Africa
Last Test	24 January 2012 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 112)	9 April 1998 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI	3 December 2006 v South Africa
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1992/93–2012/13	Hyderabad
2007–2009	Lancashire
2008/09	Otago
2008–2010	Deccan Chargers
2011	Kochi Tuskers Kerala
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 134 86 267 173 Runs scored 8,781 2,338 19,730 5,078 Batting average 45.97 30.76 51.64 34.54 100s/50s 17/56 6/10 55/98 9/28 Top score 281 131 353 153 Balls bowled 324 42 1,835 698 Wickets 2 0 22 8 Bowling average 63.00 – 34.27 68.50 5 wickets in innings 0 – 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 – 0 0 Best bowling 1/2 – 3/11 2/42 Catches/stumpings 135/– 39/– 277/1 74/–
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  India ICC Champions Trophy Winner 2002 Sri Lanka ACC Asia Cup Runner-up 2004 Sri Lanka
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 30 January 2012

Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman, born on November 1, 1974, is a famous former Indian international cricket player. He was known for his elegant batting style. Laxman played as a middle-order batsman in Test cricket. He is currently the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He also coaches the India Under-19 and India A teams. Laxman was part of the Indian team that won the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy along with Sri Lanka.

Laxman is one of the few cricketers who played 100 Test matches but never appeared in a Cricket World Cup. Even though he was a bit slow when running between the wickets, he made up for it with his amazing shots and quick scoring. In 2002, he was named one of Wisdens five Cricketers of the Year. Many considered him one of the "Fab Four" of Indian cricket.

In India, Laxman played for Hyderabad. He also played for Lancashire in England. He was the captain of the Deccan Chargers team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when it first started. Later, he played for the Kochi Tuskers team. He was also a mentor for the Sunrisers Hyderabad until 2021. Fans often call him the 'God of 4th Innings' because of his great performances in Test matches.

In 2011, Laxman received the Padma Shri award. This is India's fourth-highest award for civilians. He retired from international cricket in 2012.

About VVS Laxman's Life

Laxman was born in Hyderabad, which was then in Andhra Pradesh and is now in Telangana. His parents, Shantaram and Satyabhama, were both doctors from Vijayawada.

Laxman went to Little Flower High School in Hyderabad. He started studying medicine in college. However, he decided to follow his passion for cricket as a career instead.

He married G. R. Shailaja on February 16, 2004. She had studied Computer Applications. They have two children together.

Laxman's Batting Style

Laxman was famous for his smooth, skillful, and aggressive batting. He had a unique way of using his wrists, which allowed him to hit the ball to different parts of the field. This style reminded many of another great Hyderabadi cricketer, Mohammed Azharuddin.

He was good at playing against both fast and spin bowlers. He had excellent timing and could place the ball perfectly between fielders. Laxman stood tall and still at the crease. He knew exactly where his off-stump was and was great at hitting bad balls for runs.

Early in his career, experts like Geoffrey Boycott said Laxman was one of India's best players against the new, hard ball. However, Indian selectors often changed his batting position. He played in almost every spot, even as an opener. Laxman found his best place in the middle order, usually batting at numbers 3, 5, or 6. He played many of his best innings from these positions.

Youth Cricket Journey

Laxman first played for India's Under-19 team in February 1994 against Australia. In his first game, he scored 88 runs. He faced future stars like Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie. In the second game, he scored an amazing 151 not out and 77 runs. This helped his team win by a large margin. He was the top run-scorer in that series.

Later that year, he toured England with the India Under-19 team. In the first Test match there, he scored 119 runs in the first innings.

Playing for Teams in India and Abroad

Laxman started his first-class cricket career for Hyderabad in 1992–93. He had a tough start but soon began scoring many runs. In the 1999–2000 Ranji Trophy season, he set a record for scoring the most runs in a single season. He made 1415 runs at an average of 108, including eight centuries. This record still stands today.

His great performances earned him a spot in the Indian team for a tour of Australia in January 2000. He scored 167 runs in the final Test match in Sydney. This was a highlight for India in a difficult tour.

Indian Premier League (IPL) Experience

Laxman was first chosen as an 'Icon Player' for his home team, Deccan Chargers, in the first season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he gave up this special status. This allowed his team to spend more money on other players during the auction. The Deccan Chargers bought him for $375,000 and made him captain for the first season.

He later played for the Kochi Tuskers Kerala team in 2011. He was injured after just three games and missed the rest of that season. In 2013, he became a mentor for the Sunrisers Hyderabad team.

Laxman's International Career

Early Days (1996–2000)

Laxman made his Test debut in 1996 against South Africa. He scored a fifty in his second innings. For a few years, he struggled to keep his place in the strong Indian team. He was often asked to open the innings, a role he didn't find much success in.

In 1998, he scored 95 against Australia while opening the innings. Despite this, he was dropped from the ODI team for over a year. He worked hard in first-class cricket to get back into the national team.

The Golden Series (2001 against Australia)

Laxman's career changed completely during the 2001 home series against Australia. In the second Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, he played an amazing innings. India was in trouble, forced to follow on (bat again after being bowled out for a low score). Laxman scored an incredible 281 runs. This was the highest score by an Indian in Test cricket at that time.

He shared a record-breaking partnership of 376 runs with Rahul Dravid, who scored 180. They batted together for the entire fourth day. India went on to win the Test match and the series, which was a huge upset for the strong Australian team. This win was only the third time in cricket history that a team won a Test after being forced to follow on. This innings is considered one of the greatest in Test cricket history.

Laxman continued his great form in the series, helping India win the final Test and the series 2–1. He also did very well in the ODI series that followed, scoring a century and several fifties.

A Regular Player (2002–2004)

After the 2001 series, Laxman became a regular member of both the Test and ODI teams. He had a great tour of the West Indies in 2002, scoring 474 runs at an average of 79. He also performed well against New Zealand in India, earning the 'Man of the Series' award.

In October 2003, he scored 102 in an ODI against Australia. He continued to shine against Australia during India's tour there in 2003–04. He scored three ODI centuries and two Test centuries in that tour. His 148 in the famous Adelaide Test helped India win their first Test in Australia in two decades. He scored 178 in Sydney, again in a huge partnership with Sachin Tendulkar. During this series, cricket expert Ian Chappell famously called him Very Very Special Laxman.

Later Career and Retirement

Laxman continued to play important innings for India. In 2007–08, he scored 109 against Australia in the Sydney Test. This was his third century in a row at the SCG. He also played a crucial knock of 79 in Perth, helping India achieve a historic win.

In 2008, he scored an unbeaten 200 against Australia in Delhi. This was his second double-century in Test cricket, both against Australia. He and Gautam Gambhir became the first Indian pair to score double-centuries in the same innings.

In 2009, Laxman scored 124 not out in New Zealand, helping India draw the Test. In 2010, he scored 143 not out against South Africa in Kolkata. This helped India win the match and draw the series, keeping India as the world's number one Test team. He also passed 7000 Test runs during this innings.

Laxman once again showed his ability to perform under pressure in October 2010. He scored 73 not out with a back injury, leading India to a thrilling one-wicket win against Australia in Mohali.

In December 2010, he played a match-winning innings of 96 against South Africa in Durban. This helped India win by 87 runs and level the series. He was named 'Man of the Match' for this effort.

Laxman with fans at Teri University, New Delhi.

Laxman announced his retirement from international cricket on August 18, 2012. Even though he was chosen for the upcoming New Zealand series, he decided not to play. He continued to play domestic cricket for Hyderabad and in the IPL for a short time. The northern stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is now named after him.

Laxman's Amazing Record Against Australia

Laxman was especially good when playing against Australia. Six of his 17 Test centuries and four of his six ODI centuries came against Australia. He scored both of his Test double-centuries against them. The Australians themselves admitted they didn't know where to bowl to him.

Cricket Advisory Committee Role

Laxman is a member of a special three-person group called the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of the BCCI. The other members are Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. This committee was formed to give advice to the BCCI on important cricket matters. They use their vast experience to help make decisions. The CAC has recommended coaches for the Indian cricket team, including Anil Kumble and Ravi Shastri.

Laxman also worked as a batting consultant for the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB)'s Vision 2020 project.

International Centuries by VVS Laxman

Laxman scored his first Test century in 2000, nearly four years after his debut. It was a score of 167 against Australia in Sydney. His next century was the famous 281 against Australia in Kolkata in 2001. This is still the highest individual score in a Test match between India and Australia. Laxman has scored Test centuries against almost all Test-playing nations, except England and Bangladesh. He is seventh on the list of leading Test century makers for India. He has two double centuries and has been dismissed between 90 and 99 four times in Tests.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Laxman scored six centuries. Four of these were against Australia. His first ODI century was 101 against Australia in 2001. His highest ODI score was 131 against Zimbabwe in 2004. Two of his ODI centuries were scored in India, and four were in other countries or neutral venues.

Laxman recorded his highest score and made five centuries in Test cricket at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Symbol	Meaning
*	Remained not out (meaning he was still batting when the innings ended)
	Man of the match (best player in the game)
Pos.	Position in the batting order
Inn.	The innings of the match (first, second, etc.)
Test	The number of the Test match played in that series
S/R	Strike rate during the innings (how fast he scored runs)
H/A/N	Venue was at home (India), away (opponent's country) or neutral
Date	Match starting day
Lost	The match was lost by India
Won	The match was won by India
Drawn	The match was drawn (no winner)

List of Test centuries

No	Score	Against	Pos	Inn	Test	Venue	H/A/N	Date	Result	Ref
1	&10000000000001670000000 167	Australia	1	3	3	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Away	4 January 2000	Lost
2	&10000000000002810000000 281	Australia	3	3	2	Eden Gardens, Kolkata	Home	13 March 2001	Won
3	&10000000000001300000000 130	West Indies	6	1	4	Antigua Recreation Ground, St John's	Away	11 May 2002	Drawn
4	&10000000000001541000000 154*	West Indies	6	3	3	Eden Gardens, Kolkata	Home	3 November 2002	Drawn
5	&10000000000001041000000 104*	New Zealand	6	2	2	Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali	Home	20 October 2003	Drawn
6	&10000000000001480000000 148	Australia	6	2	2	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	Away	14 December 2003	Won
7	&10000000000001780000000 178	Australia	5	1	4	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Away	3 January 2004	Drawn
8	&10000000000001400000000 140	Zimbabwe	4	2	1	Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo	Away	14 September 2005	Won
9	&10000000000001040000000 104	Sri Lanka	3	1	3	Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad	Home	19 December 2005	Won
10	&10000000000001000000000 100	West Indies	3	2	3	Warner Park, St Kitts	Away	25 June 2006	Drawn
11	&10000000000001121000000 112*	Pakistan	6	1	2	Eden Gardens, Kolkata	Home	1 December 2007	Drawn
12	&10000000000001090000000 109	Australia	3	2	2	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Away	3 January 2008	Lost
13	&10000000000002001000000 200*	Australia	5	1	3	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi	Home	30 October 2008	Drawn
14	&10000000000001241000000 124*	New Zealand	5	3	2	McLean Park, Napier	Away	30 March 2009	Drawn
15	&10000000000001431000000 143*	South Africa	5	2	2	Eden Gardens, Kolkata	Home	16 February 2010	Won
16	&10000000000001031000000 103*	Sri Lanka	5	4	3	Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo	Away	7 August 2010	Won
17	&10000000000001761000000 176*	West Indies	5	1	2	Eden Gardens, Kolkata	Home	15 November 2011	Won

List of ODI centuries

No	Score	Against	Pos	Inn	SR	Venue	H/A/N	Date	Result	Ref
1	101	Australia	3	1	94.39	Fatorda Stadium, Margao	Home	6 April 2001	Lost
2	102	Australia	3	1	76.11	Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior	Home	26 October 2003	Won
3	103*	Australia	3	1	91.15	Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane	Away	18 January 2004	Won
4	106*	Australia	3	1	81.53	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Away	22 January 2004	Lost
5	131	Zimbabwe	3	1	94.92	Adelaide Cricket Ground, Adelaide	Neutral	24 January 2004	Won
6	107	Pakistan	3	1	102.88	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	Away	24 March 2004	Won

Awards and Achievements

• Padma Shri: India's fourth-highest civilian award, received in 2011.
• Arjuna Award: Given by the Government of India in 2001 for his great achievements in sports.
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year: Awarded in 2002.
• His innings of 281 against Australia in Kolkata in 2001 is ranked as one of the top Test innings ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.
• He holds the record for taking the most catches (12) by a non-wicketkeeper in a single ODI series, sharing this record with Allan Border.
• Laxman and Rahul Dravid hold the world record for the highest partnership (376 Runs) in the third innings of a Test match that led to a win.
• He is one of only six Indian Test players to score 100 runs in a single session of a Test match.
• Laxman is the second Indian player to score 1000 or more runs at a single ground. He scored 1217 runs at an average of 110.63 at Eden Gardens.
• He is the only Indian player to score 1000 runs at a single ground with an average of more than 100.
• He is one of only three international players (and the only Indian) to make an unbeaten fifty in both innings of a Test match more than once.
• Laxman received an honorary doctorate degree on February 4, 2015, from Teri University, New Delhi.