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'One of the finest human beings to have played cricket'
Cricketers and those associated with the game pay tribute to VVS Laxman, after he announces his international retirement in Hyderabad
ESPNcricinfo staff
August 18, 2012
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News : Laxman retires from international cricket News : Laxman's retirement speech News : A very, very special career Audio/Video:
'An emotional and surprising decision'
| 'Right time for me to move on' - Laxman
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"When i walk out to play in Hyderabad I will feel a deep void. A void that can never be filled. My dear friend, VVS Laxman..."
India team-mate Sachin Tendulkar on Twitter
"The whole team will miss you VVS. One of the best human beings I have ever met in my life. Spent a lot of time with him while batting and fielding and the chat would always be about the team. Personally, I will really miss you Lachu bhai."
India captain MS Dhoni
"The best part about Laxman was his sense of grace on and off the field, both in good times and bad times. I will remember him most for his sense of balance while batting, his ability to keep smiling whatever the situation and the tenacity to keep bouncing back."
Former India captain Rahul Dravid
"That was the brightest day in Laxman's career. That innings had a big impact on Indian cricket. It had given us a huge sense of relief and made us have belief in ourselves that we're not behind... Since then, we never looked back as Indian cricket kept improving."
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Laxman's 281 in the 2001 Kolkata Test against Australia
"Laxman has had an outstanding career. He is one of the few batsmen who was a great chaser, an art only a few could master."
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar
"Laxman you were amazing [at] cricket everyone knows, but you were surely the best human being I have ever met. God bless you with all the happiness in future."
India team-mate Harbhajan Singh
"VVS is one of the finest human beings to have played cricket. One of the main pillars of the team and a true friend. Words are not enough."
India team-mate Virender Sehwag
"From carrying his innings to carrying himself, VVS has shown immense class. Will miss you Laxman bhai."
India team-mate Suresh Raina
"Laxman bhai has always been an inspiration for all the cricketers. Gonna miss watching him play for India. Wish him all the best for future!"
India batsman Manoj Tiwary
Congrats to VVS Laxman on an amazing career.
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) August 18, 2012
"Laxman. His attitude is infectious. Felt at peace after talking to him. A salute to him for a great career and inspiring many lives."
India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand
"Requires a very special man to turn his back on a grandstand end and accept the moment has come. Rose in my eyes if he could any more."
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle
"Not many batsmen made batting look as easy as VVS Laxman. If a cricketer's greatness is to be measured in terms of his performances against the best opposition of his time, then Laxman stands right at the top; his record against Australia, the world's No. 1 team for the better part of his career, speaks for itself. Indian cricket-lovers, and the game of cricket itself, will miss him for the elegance and grace that he epitomised, on and off the field."
BCCI president N Srinivasan
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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I felt for a moment that i am hurting all Sachin fans and even myself a little when i call Sachin selfish always. He may have been in some occasions but not always. Selfish term is irrelevant i feel. I am sorry. But at the same time Sachin is just playing not even thinking of team future. Sachin fans you should not be adamant here in accepting this. Think once how correct you support always Sachin. I have accepted truth that i was wrong in calling him selfish always which he was not except for few times. He is a talented sportsman , but can you people answer me, is he intelligent?? Is he Intelligent enough to think about team future and also think how is he playing; in form , out of form and leaving matches , again entering team?? All debate on this i am ready to talk with you people. Future of Indian with out Sachin and goal to make world cup team is what is all our topic about. Ready?? Cricinfo please publish.
Posted by vas_v9 on (August 20, 2012, 5:39 GMT)VVS: Very Very Special.... Will miss you...
Posted bySad day...Hope Tendulkar doesnt retire anytime soon. i.e at least for 10 yrs. Now THAT would be really sad.
Posted by SivaSurapaneni on (August 19, 2012, 23:10 GMT)All of 30+ scores from VVS in result changing matches in India's favor were worthier than 100+ scores in inconsequential matches from other batsmen. India was lucky to have many of such scores from Lakshman. For me his centuries are not 17. They are Worth 34. They are a few stylish, graceful coupled with nerves of steel left in Cricket. Alma is probably the closest.
Posted bysome players are born special... no matter how much you try to emulate them it is absolutely impossible to fill in their shoes. VVS is one such player... pure class, elegance and a treat to watch when in full flow. his is a different style one of a kind. agreed that there are players on the bench who are good and promising and they may even be as effective but there was & there still is only 1 Laxman and probably he'll be the last Laxman... our own Very Very Special Laxman... will surely miss you great one. I never used to watch test cricket until that fateful day at Eden and since then all changed & nw that the famed quartet is broken there will be no more test cricket for me.... I bid adieu to thee test.....
Posted by Imsrk on (August 19, 2012, 17:20 GMT)Sachin would be selfish if he retires now as he should guide Indian young middle order before leaving
Posted by praveen4honestremark on (August 19, 2012, 11:31 GMT)It was only after Laxman's heroics at Eden people of India started believing that Team India can win from whatever situation.Bowling we had only one hope Kumble and he always delivered when India needed. Earlier in batting except for Dravid and to some extent Ganguly, it was pathetic. Sachin was always been a 4th guy following these guys foot steps but that too too late for one or two test matches for a drawn cause or win at Chennai. But Laxman and Dravid have many matches to show for them where they won Indian matches single handedly. So my humble request to Sachin is that " Please retire from team, so that team can learn winning rather than learn loosing from you ".
Posted byLaxman... Special... VERY VERY SPEC IAL...WHAT ELSE COULD I SAY????
Posted by praveen4honestremark on (August 19, 2012, 11:26 GMT)Sachin is the only match looser now. Earlier they were two match winners Dravid and Laxman, so atleast even though Sachin match loosing abilities would come up they could have been cancelled by match winning abilities of this 2 match winners and we used to at least Draw match or win match. But now what will happen?? Selfish records?? God save team India.
Posted by@phani20 -- spot on dude, wonderful comment :) comparisons mustn't be made between any great....ganguly, dravid, laxman and tendulkar are all class players and have their unique style....for sachin, he has been instrumental since 1989 and is the best among all we fans actually don't play international cricket so we don't know anything but i have personally met dravid and ganguly and both were unanimous that they too have learnt a lot from sachin....laxman too considers sachin the best along with lara, warne, mcgrath, akram, yunis, donald etc....when so many people hail one person, that person is indeed special....A worst form SACHIN is 100 times better than a best form rest Indian batsman....coming on Laxman, salute you sir, I can proudly say I never criticised you and other legends even in crisis because I always knew if you all couldn't play well on a certain pitch....no other indian batsman can ever play, best of luck :)