When Virender Sehwag astonished VVS Laxman with an outrageous promise
"I didn’t know what to make of it."
Back in March 2001 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, VVS Laxman played a knock of 281 runs in India’s second inning to help his team achieve the unfathomable- defeating Australia by 171 runs after the hosts conceded a lead of 274 in the first innings. Even after 17 years, the knock is remembered as one of the greatest knocks an Indian batsman has played, combining all the formats.
He then became India’s highest individual scorer in Tests. However, after three years another batsman by the name of Virender Sehwag surpassed the veteran and notched 309 runs against Pakistan in Multan as the visiting team won by an innings and 52 runs. He also became India’s maiden triple-centurion in Test cricket. Sehwag even went to score his second triple ton against South Africa in 2008.
Recently, Laxman launched his new autobiography named ‘281 and Beyond’ in which we went down the memory lane and narrated an incident which left him in sheer astonishment. The incident took place during Laxman and Sehwag’s conversation prior to India’s second ODI against the Aussies at Nehru Stadium in Pune in the same year after India won the first match in Bangalore by 60 runs.
My jaw dropped and I stared at him
“Viru’s unique talent expressed itself during the 2001 ODI series against Australia. In the first match in Bangalore, he blasted 58, took three wickets with his off-spin, and was the man of the match. The night before the Pune match, we had gone out for dinner —Viru, Zak and I.
Out of the blue, Viru told me, ‘Laxman bhai, you had a great opportunity to make a triple hundred in the Kolkata Test, but unfortunately, you didn’t. Now you wait and watch, I will become the first Indian to score 300 in Test cricket.’” Laxman wrote in his book.
“My jaw dropped and I stared at him in astonishment. This guy had played just four ODIs, wasn’t anywhere close to Test selection, and here he was, making the most outrageous of claims. For a second, I thought he was joking, but Viru was dead serious. To be honest, I didn’t know what to make of it,” he added.
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