VVS Laxman

Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman (born 1 November 1974) is a former Indian cricketer known for his elegant batting style and several match-winning innings. He scored 8,781 runs in 134 Test matches, including 17 centuries. His partnership of 376 runs with Rahul Dravid in the 2001 Test against Australia at Eden Gardens, Kolkata — where India followed on but won — is considered one of the greatest partnerships in Test cricket history. Born in Hyderabad, Laxman came from a family of doctors and was expected to pursue medicine. However, his natural talent for cricket was evident from a young age. He made his Test debut in 1996 and became one of the "Fab Four" of Indian batting (alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly) who dominated international cricket in the 2000s. Laxman's ability to play wristy, elegant shots and his effectiveness against pace bowling made him a special player. He was particularly dominant against Australia, scoring 13 centuries against them — more than any other opponent. His 281 not out at Eden Gardens in 2001 is widely regarded as one of the greatest Test innings ever played. After retirement, Laxman became the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore and has been involved in nurturing young cricket talent in India.