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'God Gave Me Talent, But You Are Blessed' - Sachin's Wise Words Before VVS Laxman's Career-Defining Knock 

image-lj57hzgpVVS Laxman scored 167 at SCG after a conversation with Sachin Tendulkar | Source: Twitter

The current Australian team, deserving World Test champions though they may be, cannot replicate the invincible aura of the Australian side from the 2000s. During that era, icons like Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Brett Lee were at the pinnacle of their careers, turning every opponent into an underdog as they enjoyed a decade-long reign of dominance.   

The mere thought of facing the then Australian bowling attack was always an intimidating task for the batters, but VVS Laxman would beg to differ. Over the course of 29 Tests, VVS Laxman amassed a whopping 2434 runs against Australia, maintaining a staggering average of 49.67. Out of his 17 Test centuries, six came against the Aussies.

However, it wasn't always smooth sailing for Laxman, as he had his share of challenges when he started his career against Australia. It was when India toured Australia for a three-Test series in 1999-2000. With a dismal 0-3 Test series defeat and a lone victory in the tri-series against Pakistan, the tour was largely forgettable for India.

However, amidst the disappointments, VVS Laxman emerged as a silver lining for the Indian team. His stellar performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was marked by a phenomenal innings of 167 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, although it came in a losing cause. 

Prior to the SCG Test, Laxman's Test record was rather underwhelming, with only 626 runs from 16 matches. There’s no denying that he showed glimpses of potential but struggled to convert them into big totals.

However, everything changed when Laxman received a life-changing pep-talk from the legendary Sachin Tendulkar ahead of the series' final match, which proved to be a turning point in Laxman's career. 

While talking about the incident from the past, former Indian seamer, Venkatesh Prasad narrated an episode when Laxman received a life-changing pep-talk from the legendary Sachin Tendulkar ahead of the series' final match, which proved to be a turning point in Laxman's career. 


Here is what Prasad was quoted as saying in the book 'Sachin at 50':

"I would like to narrate one story here to elaborate on Sachin's man-management skills. After we lost the first Test match in Adelaide, Sachin, VVS. Laxman, and I went for a walk and a meal. We were discussing how we need to adjust in the remaining matches. Then the conversation veered towards who were our favourite players. I said I liked Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman. Laxman also took a couple of names."

"Then Laxman asked Sachin about his favourite player. Sachin replied: Laxman if you don't smile and show your teeth, I'll say you are my favourite player.?' Laxman started laughing and said Sachin was only making fun of him. Sachin interrupted and added: Laxman, I'll tell you one thing. You are blessed with so much talent. You can see the ball a split second earlier than me. God has given you exceptional talent which you are not able to understand. God gave me minimum talent, which I am maximising: I have four gears in my batting defence. push, drive and loft. I understand the conditions and use my logic and perform accordingly."

Laxman finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in Tests behind the batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar with 8781 runs at an average of 45.97. Even in ODIs, where he played just 86 matches, Laxman scored 739 runs from 21 matches against Australia at an average of 46.18, including four centuries.