Former India cricketer VVS Laxman had some of the adorned careers in worldwide cricket, with quite a few tales of his resilience and heroics. But, the legendary batter by no means performed a World Cup recreation. In December 2002, he was faraway from the squad for the 2003 ICC event and changed by Dinesh Mongia. Then-captain Sourav Ganguly, the person behind the massive name, which even resulted in him arguing with the selectors, opened up on Sunday, clarifying that the choice left Laxman deeply damage and that he didn’t converse to him for 3 months.
The toss-up was at all times between Laxman and Mongia, even because the latter was not a part of the then-ongoing Zimbabwe tour round which the choice assembly occurred. However Laxman’s ODI numbers weren’t fairly important both – 1240 runs at a mean of simply 27.55 and a strike charge of solely 67.02. Finally, it was Mongia who pipped the batter owing to his sharper fielding expertise.
Talking to the PTI, Ganguly recalled that Laxman was “sad and naturally upset” after the announcement, and he didn’t discuss to him for 3 months till he made up with him.
“It has occurred many occasions once we rested gamers. They have been sad. Laxman being not noted of the World Cup…he by no means spoke to me for 3 months. Then I made up with him. Anyone would get upset…for a World Cup. Particularly a participant of Laxman’s calibre. Fairly pure that he would get upset. After we completed the World Cup, he was blissful that we did nicely,” he stated.
Ganguly, nevertheless, admitted that Laxman made a formidable return to the ODI staff after the World Cup, the place India India had completed as runners-up.
“After we got here again, he returned to the ODI system. He performed an impressive sequence in Pakistan and Australia. We received in Pakistan for the primary time ever, and VVS was very instrumental. They knew in the back of their thoughts that it was by no means private.”
Why was VVS Laxman not noted?
Former India chief selector Kiran Extra, talking on the Caught Behind YouTube channel final 12 months, had revealed that every one 5 selectors have been on board to choose Laxman within the World Cup squad, however Ganguly and head coach John Wright had a distinct opinion.
“Earlier than the 2003 ODI World Cup choice assembly, we had an enormous argument when the Indian staff was taking part in in New Zealand. As per the inputs obtained from the captain and the coach, we chosen a 14-member squad and requested them what they considered it,” stated Extra.
“Over the convention name, Ganguly had a distinct opinion. We had chosen VVS Laxman as our middle-order batter. Ganguly was very good. He was a superb captain, an individual with an important cricketing mind. He stated ‘we want an all-rounder’.
“All 5 selectors have been on the identical web page. We thought, ‘how might we drop somebody like Laxman’. However once we ultimately had an elaborate dialogue with all of the stakeholders together with captain, coach, and vice captain Rahul Dravid, we ultimately took an enormous name that now we have to offer them what they need.” he concluded.
Extra had additional revealed that Laxman had not talked to the selectors for 2 years, and neither did the choice committee ever come out in public to say it was Ganguly’s name.
