Early Life and Education
Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman, more commonly known as V.V.S Laxman, was born in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), India on November 1st, 1974. Despite being hailed from a medical background with both parents practicing doctors, it didn’t influence his passion for cricket.
Schooling and Interest in Cricket
Laxman studied at Little Flower High School where he showed early talent for the sport. Simultaneously pursued a career in medicine to stay true to family tradition but later decided to fully dedicate himself to his cricketing aspirations.
Career Beginnings
Laxman’s career took off in domestic cricket leagues before he captured national attention when playing for Hyderabad under-16s. He then caught the eye of national selectors and made his Test debut for India against South Africa in 1996.
Clarity of Role & Remarkable Innings
In the initial stages of his international cricket journey, Laxman usually batted down the order and faced criticism due to inconsistent performance. Things changed when he was moved up the batting order against Australia in 2001 at Eden Gardens where he delivered unforgettable innings scoring 281 runs and this is considered one of greatest knocks ever seen in international test cricket.
Recognition and Retirement
Following that remarkable inning, Laxman became an integral part of Indian cricket team shaping many victories over next decade making him one of best modern day players. He retired from International cricket in 2012 after a glorious career spanning over sixteen years during which he amassed over 8,000 Test runs including centuries and half-centuries against some fiercest bowling units around the world.
Awards and Honors
Laxman has been honored with several awards for his contribution to the sport. Government of India awarded him prestigious Padma Shri in 2011 acknowledging his service to Indian cricket.
Post Retirement Life
Post-retirement, Laxman is actively involved in nurturing young talents through cricket academies and contributes to game as expert commentator. He also serves on advisory committee for Hyderabad Cricket Association and became mentor for Sunrisers Hyderabad, a franchise competing in Indian Premier League(IPL).
Biography Release
In 2018, he released his autobiography titled “281 and Beyond”, which captures highlights from his life both on and off pitch helping us understand better about this great cricketer’s journey.
