The man who brought shudder and expectancy

It was always "chik", that sound from VVS Laxman's bat when it met ball; a gentle sound, barely audible, a pleasant meeting of two. Early in his career Laxman was the strokeplayer, revelling against pace, standing up to punch deliciously through cover, or merely pausing in the midst of what others might have called an off-drive, or even pulling through midwicket.Laxman is known for his "wristy, willowy and sinuous" style, one which is technically fluid at its best. Laxman's on-side playing capability is comparable with his fellow Hyderabadi Mohammed Azharuddin's.Laxman made his Test debut in 1996 against South Africa at Ahmedabad, scoring a fifty in the second innings of the match

It was March 1998 and Laxman opened the batting with Navjot Sidhu. He made 95 but that was the first time you saw him dance out to Shane Warne and play against the turn through midwicket; or rather against some perceived turn, because he was right where the ball pitched.

Laxman had something every cricketer dreams of: respect in his dressing room and in those of his opponents. And the opportunity to leave our game richer.Laxman's good form continued in the 2007/08 Test series against Australia with him scoring 109 against Australia on the second day of the controversial Sydney Test to put India back into the contest.

Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman (Google Image)

On 18 August 2012, Laxman announced his retirement from international cricket. Although he was selected for the upcoming New Zealand series, he opted not to play in the series but he will play in domestic cricket for Hyderabad and the Indian Premier League. It was announced that the Northern Stand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium will now be named after him

"If you get Dravid, great. If you get Sachin, brilliant. If you get Laxman, it's a miracle.", Steve Waugh

Achievements and awards

• Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, 2011. 
• Arjuna Award by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sports, 2001.
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 2002.
• He is one of the few cricketers to score the most number of centuries (3) in a single ODI series.
• His innings of 281 against Australia at Kolkata in 2001 was ranked sixth in Wisden's list of 100 great Test innings in the history of the game.
• He has the record of taking the most number of catches (12) by a non-wicketkeeper in an single ODI series. He shares this record with Allan Border.