The cricketing world poured in with birthday wishes for VVS Laxman, who has turned 46 on Friday. Social media platform Twitter went abuzz with #HappyBirthdayVVSLaxman early on the day as one after another wished the former Indian cricketer.
Here’s how the cricket fraternity wished Laxman
When things got out of hand, it were his wrists that told us reLax Man! 😉
Have a great birthday, Lax! pic.twitter.com/h56FmU9DzQ— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 1, 2019
Birthday wishes to one of the best batsmen India has ever had @VVSLaxman281. Your very very special wrist technique is still my favorite. Wishing you all the health and happiness in the world. pic.twitter.com/XLbNUdmRS6
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 1, 2019
May you be blessed with the best this birthday and beyond. Sending lots of luck and good vibes your way😊 Happy birthday @VVSLaxman281 Have a good one 👍🏻😎 pic.twitter.com/EEdr0xTMYS
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) November 1, 2019
Happy birthday to the best person I have ever met.. what a legend..my very very dear friend @VVSLaxman281 May you continue to be blessed and happy forever .. #Happpybirthdaylaxman pic.twitter.com/bspzcI6l9R
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 1, 2019
You are such a great role model for everyone in the world. I wish good health & the best in everything that you do. A very happy birthday @VVSLaxman281 anna pic.twitter.com/5HTLTonBL5
— Pragyan Prayas Ojha (@pragyanojha) November 1, 2019
Here’s wishing one of #TeamIndia‘s most stylish batsmen, @VVSLaxman281 a very happy birthday 🎂🍰
On his special day, relive his ‘very very special’ knock of 281 against Australia #HappyBirthdayVVSLaxman pic.twitter.com/72e2ZwCD90
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 31, 2019
Tests ➞ 134
Runs ➞ 8781
Centuries ➞ 17
Average ➞ 45.972434 of his Test runs came against Australia, including a marathon innings of 281 at Eden Gardens in 2001, which took India to one of their most spectacular victories!
Happy birthday to the legendary VVS Laxman 🎂 pic.twitter.com/9Ufp9nCjAl
— ICC (@ICC) November 1, 2019
On @VVSLaxman281‘s birthday, we take a look at his ‘very very special innings’ at Eden Gardens in Kolkata 🧡#HappyBirthdayVVSLaxman #OrangeArmy #RiseWithUS pic.twitter.com/iARc4LWeXM
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 1, 2019
In his cricketing career that lasted 16 years, VVS Laxman has notched up 8781 Test runs at an average of 46 and 2338 ODI runs at a rate of 30.8. During his playing days, he was considered as the “Fav Four” of Indian batting alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
Ever since the historic 281 at the Eden Gardens in 2001, Laxman had established himself as a master of batting in stringent conditions where most of the others failed. Known for his ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, Laxman played several match-winning knocks and won the game for India from where victory looked improbable.
His 73 against Australia in the first of the two-Test series in 2008 in India’s chase of 216 shall always be counted as one of his best innings. Another gem of an innings had come in the fourth innings when he made 124 not-out against Sri Lanka during India’s chase 257 in the third Test in Colombo in 2010.