Laxman Had To…

V.V.S. Laxman needed this century, rather double century, more than any one expected. For too many times in his career, he has made flattering starts only to deceive. This one had to be different. After all, it had to be against Australia that would also have to be his moment of revival.

laxman jjMaz 17022

Before the start of the Test in Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi, there was considerable debate on whether Amit Mishra should drop himself to accommodate the skipper back, whether Anil Kumble himself should sit out in light of Mishra’s performance in Mohali or if India were missing a trick by playing too many batsmen and not using all three spinners. With Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar ruled out as also Rahul Dravid, Laxman could not be ignored simply because of his exceptional record against Australia. With Mahendra Singh Dhoni mandatory as wicket keeper and vice captain, Laxman was a gamble the selectors did not want to take.

As fortunes would have it, Harbhajan Singh sustained a toe injury and did not make a recovery in time for the third Test and the selectors and team management did not have to make a decision either way. Laxman has now made the proposition even more difficult for the fourth Test with this double century.

With considerable focus on the seniors in the team and talk of their impending retirements, Laxman was already at a disadvantage not featuring in the one day internationals as well as cricket’s latest format, Twenty20. Already stripped of captaincy for the Hyderabad Deccan Chargers, Laxman needed to make a statement that he was still active and good for runs. He could not have chosen a better time to find his touch and timing and the sweet spot of his bat was repeatedly sought as he notched up a fine double hundred.

Just to put matters in perspective, this is Laxman’s highest knock since his 178 in Sydney back in 2003-’04, not surprisingly against the same opposition. His knock on days one and two held his exquisite timing and stroke play and ensured that Gautam Gambhir, the other double centurion of the match, did not get bogged down under the lone weight of batting and holding up the innings.

Perhaps Laxman may find himself out of favour another day in the not so far future. But perhaps if the selectors are even contemplating a voluntary retirement policy, perhaps they should hold out a wild card every time India is up against Australia. Such as been Laxman’s inexplicable but extraordinarily exceptional run against Australia who just seem to keep running into their nemesis, almost always without fail.