VVS Laxman : - A perfect fit at No. 5!
MS Dhoni is right. No. 5 is the perfect position for VVS Laxman. It’s where India need his abundant experience, a position that links the top order to the inexperienced middle and lower ranks. It’s a position of responsibility, meant for a secure man like Laxman, who has worked hard to come to terms with his role in the team.
As soon as Laxman was declared fit for the second Test, the question was where to fit him in the batting order? His desire to bat at one drop is well known. That, coupled with his aggressive batting, which has dominated even the best Australian attacks, may have been reason enough to slot Laxman at No. 3 in Rahul Dravid’s absence, especially if one of the openers fell early. But India needed an experienced hand, along with MS Dhoni, in the middle order. And so Laxman stayed at No. 5.
The series and the No. 1 ranking were at stake when Laxman walked on to Eden Gardens on Monday evening. He survived that testing period, another one on Tuesday morning and finished unbeaten with a fabulous century, his fourth at his favourite venue. Laxman became the first batsman to pass 1000 runs at Eden Gardens, and only the second Indian after Sunil Gavaskar to do so at any venue. More Delails
