VVS Laxman plays the write line

Hyderabad: Anecdotes flowed in abundance on a thrilling Thursday evening as VVS Laxman launched his very, very special autobiography aptly titled 281 And Beyond at a hotel here. Emotion was aplenty as the former Indian batsman recounted his journey to the top of the cricketing world amidst people who had been instrumental in his career.

In conversation with co-commentator Harsha Bhogle, Laxman had the audience in rapt attention and regularly in splits as he spoke about the book co-authored by seasoned cricket writer R. Kaushik and published by Westland.

Not many would know that Laxman was initially a gentle mediumpacer who occasionally induced an edge before shifting his focus to batting. That he went on to aggregate 11,119 runs in the 134 Tests and 86 One-Dayers, his iconic knock being the 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001 that turned the Test, series and fortunes of Indian cricket around, is history.

But it’s the whirlwind 167 — his first international century — against the same opposition away in Sydney a year ago that is a tad closer to him. “In four years of playing for India (since his debut in 1996) I never had scored a century and so, deep down that knock is closer,” Laxman said, adding, “That innings gave me belief that I could play at the highest level. It removed all doubts and apprehensions from my mind.”

Surprisingly, “the 281 didn’t surprise me.” “After the 167, the mindset with which I approached games was different. I had prepared well and was mentally prepared to bat long,” he explained.

At this juncture, Laxman thanked national athletics coach N. Ramesh of Hyderabad who now trains successful sprinter Dutee Chand, for the physical fitness. “I never felt tired after batting for two days (for his 281 at Eden),” he said.

The 44-year-old also thanked the role of seniors from Hyderabad in his journey. He said former Test cricketer Arshad Ayub, for whose club Ensconse he played in the local league, pushed him hard. “I was looking at playing for the Hyderabad U-16 and perhaps the South Zone side when Arshad bhai motivated me with lines like ‘Look at what Sachin Tendulkar is doing at 16 — playing Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis (in the Test series against Pakistan). Set bigger goals, chase and achieve them,’” he said.

Laxman also spoke of the guidance he got from late M. L. Jaisimha (as Hyderabad coach) and help from former Test cricketer from Hyderabad S. L. Venkatapathy Raju, with whose bats he scored the 167 as well as 281. “He was a generous senior, as us Hyderabadis would say — dildaar. Those were the days I had no sponsorship with the sports goods manufacturing firms. If I liked an accessory, he would just say ‘keep it,’” Laxman informed.

Incidentally, the Eden Test in which Laxman got that famous 281 was Raju’s final one. It was goosebumps time when Raju called it “the last, but most memorable game for me.”

During the chat, Laxman also made special mentions of coaches John Manoj, Jyothi Prasad, batting coach Ashok and his Hyderabad Under 16 captain Moinuddin Zaki, a promising player himself.

Having lived out of suitcases during his career, Laxman also talked of the battle of loneliness. “Every sportsperson, at various stages, goes through depression. In the first four years when I was not quite established (in the Indian team), I was part of a lot of away tours. You get homesick. After marriage, I had to leave my wife behind, and then the kids too... it’s sacrifice. The one who wins this mental battle achieves longevity,” he explained.

“I have always been and still am his second love, the first being cricket,” Laxman’s wife Sailaja said in jest.

Laxman’s maternal uncle Baba Krishna Mohan, who has been a tremendous influence in his life, stole the thunder in one line: “Laxman’s success is my biggest achievement.”

State IT minister K. T. Rama Rao said he followed Laxman’s 281 in the USA via reports on the web and said “the success stories of Hyderabad sportspersons bring in much needed positivity and changes the thinking process that we can beat and be the best in the world.”

National badminton coach Pullela Gopichand said he felt “proud and happy that Laxman belonged to Hyderabad.”

Asked to pick the toughest of his decisions — choosing cricket over medicine, having been born into a family of doctors; giving up on his opening slot and retiring — Laxman said it was relinquishing the opener’s role that was the hardest, for “the Indian middle order comprised Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly and I felt it would be extremely difficult to fit into it.”

Boy, didn’t he fit like a glove!