Sachin's book revelations: VVS Laxman opens up, says Chappell crossed his limits

Hyderabad: Former cricketer VVS Laxman has come out strongly in support of Sachin Tendulkar’s view that former coach Greg Chappell was a negative influence on the Indian cricket team.

“The teammates were like a family who went out as a unit against the opposition but Chappell created a divide between the seniors and the juniors,” Laxman told Deccan Chronicle on Tuesday.

Read: Dropped at a time I was topping averages: VVS Laxman

He also revealed he was indirectly threatened with his place in the side if he did not yield to the coach’s ‘advice’ to open the batting.

Read: Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh join 'slam Greg Chappell chorus'

“Chappell asked me to consider opening the batting to which I replied saying I had tried that before and decided against it in 2000 as I was consistent in the middle order. At this, he asked what my age was and when I informed 31, said ‘don’t you think it is such a young age to sit at home?’ That was a rude shock to me. As coach he had the right to ask players to bat at different positions, but the rudeness of his reply was shocking,” he said.