5 Best innings of VVS Laxman

Here, we will take a look at the five best innings of VVS Laxman. Vengapurappu Venkata Sai Laxman, is one of the finest modern day cricketers. One of the most elegant batsman ever. He had been an instrumental part in glorious victorious for Team India. He had played many magnificent knocks in his career, here we have picked out the best five very very special knocks from VVS Laxman:

#5 73 against Australia

It was the first Test of the 2 Test series against Australia at Mohali. India were in big trouble chasing 216 and had lost all key batsmen very early. Kangaroos were sniffing the triumph, but then Australia’s biggest fear Laxman came to the rescue.

He remained strong with his sore back and won a thriller for India with his majestic 73. He played along with tailenders and made sure that tailenders stayed in the middle. He gave India a memorable victory.

#4 124 against New Zealand

It was the second Test in Napier against New Zealand in the 2009 tour. India were already ahead in the 3 Test series, New Zealand had done all the hard work to give themselves a healthy chance of winning and leveling the series. But VVS Laxman had other plans.

India did not get any good start and were losing wickets at regular intervals. Though Dravid and Sachin scored half centuries, that was too little to save the Test. Chris Martin alone was fierce and was giving hard time to Indian batsmen.

Laxman then stood firm with Gambhir to manage to put India in a better position, but even when Gambhir got out Laxman watched the match out with his absolute patience and temperament. This was a great escape for India which resulted in a series win for India, after a historc draw.

#3 107 against Pakistan

The famous Indo-Pak series of 2004 was level at 2-2. It was all down to decider at Lahore. It was a big pressure series against Pakistan. India were batting first and had lost an early wicket which brought Laxman to the middle.

Every time India looked good in the match, they manage to lose a wicket from one end, but on the other end VVS Laxman played a fantastic knock, his best ODI knock. He scored 107 from 104 balls and almost single-handedly steered India to a score of 293. India eventually won the match and series and VVS Laxman was chosen Man of the Match.

#2 79 against Australia

India were 2-0 down in a 4-Test match series, during the 2007-08 tour of Australia. After losing the infamous Sydney Test, India had to bounce back on the bouncy track of Perth to stay alive in the series.

India were united and they had the fight in them. India were in the lead when they came out to bat in the third innings of the Test, but started losing wickets at regular interval and soon were 116 for 4, thenLaxman came out and played one of the knocks of his life. On the fast and bouncy track of Perth, he was watchful and took the responsibility to posta strong target for Australia. He was involved incrucial partnerships with Dhoni and tail ender RP Singh and played an integral role in afamous Indian victory.

#1 281 against Australia

Australia were in its dominant mode, this was the second test of the 3 Test series. Australia were already ahead in the series by 1-0 and came into this Test with a 16 consecutive winning streak. Australians looked in total control of the game as they invited India for follow-on after India got bundled out at 171 in reply to 445 of Australia’s first innings total.

Das and Ramesh provided a healthy start to India, but after the fall of Ramesh came out VVS Laxman and nobody knew he is out there on Eden Garden’s pitch to do a miracle. He started firmly and tried to build on a partnership with Das which did not last long, soon Das and Sachin fell in a hurry, thereafter he built a partnership with skipper Ganguly but Dada got out and still a lot was to be done. Then walked out the wall Rahul Dravid.

VVS Laxman added 376 runs with Dravid. He played shots and kept on scoring runs and made look everybody from McGrath to Warne look ordinary. This innings included all sort of shots and was a display of utter determination and class under huge pressure.

He got out on 281 to McGrath, but by then he had scripted one of the most famous victories for India in history. This 281 also lasted as the highest Indian individual total until Sehwag broke it with his triple ton in 2004.