VVS Laxman Reveals He Couldn't Hold Back His Tears After Seeing A Young Indian Team Fulfill His Dream Of Beating Australia In Australia

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman tormented the Australians throughout his career. Whether it was his 167 at the SCG in 2000 or his innings for the ages- THAT 281- at the Eden Gardens in 2001 or his hundreds at the Adelaide Oval and Sydney in 2003/04 or his match-winning knocks in Mumbai 2004 and Mohali 2010, the ‘Very Very Special’ Laxman always saved his best against the then world champions.

However, one thing that VVS Laxman could not achieve during his stellar 16-year-old Test career was scripting a Test series win Down Under. He was a part of the Indian team that came close to doing that during the 2003/04 series but unfortunately, it proved to be a ‘too close yet too far’ moment as a defiant Steve Waugh held the fort for his team on the final day of the 2004 SCG Test.

Laxman wanted to end his Test career with a series win over Australia during the 2011/12 tour but not only did that tour ended in a nightmare- India were blanked 0-4- it was also one of the rare instances when the stylish batsman failed to bring his ‘A’ game to the table.

And, so for VVS, who has witnessed his dream get shattered on more than one occasion, it was an emotional moment when he saw a young Indian side, despite all the odds stacked against them, script a triumph for the ages by not only breaching the ‘Gabbatoir’ but by winning their second consecutive Test series Down Under.

And, the ‘Very Very Special’ man just couldn’t hold back his tears following the triumph.

“There is no doubt about it. In fact, I became very emotional. I was watching the last day and following it along with my family. When Rishabh and Washington were batting, I got very tense myself because when you’re not playing the game, you’re not in control,” VVS Laxman told ‘Sports Today’

“I just wanted India to beat Australia and win the series, especially after what has happened in Adelaide and what had happened before the Gabba Test match where everyone was talking about Indians are scared of going to Brisbane where Australia hadn’t lost in a long time,” he added.

Laxman revealed that it was the second instance of him crying while watching an Indian triumph, the first being the 2011 World Cup heist.

“Twice I cried, once in 2011 when India lifted the World Cup because I always wanted to be part of a World Cup-winning team and I played alongside this group of players who were so close to me and they went on to realise their dream of winning the World Cup,” VVS Laxman said.

“And I always wanted to beat Australia in Australia, I was not able to do that as a cricketer. I was so proud that this young Indian did that. Tears came down my eyes. Words cannot express what a wonderful, inspirational achievement not only for cricket but for the entire country,” he added.

After having been shot out for 36 in Adelaide, Team India, despite the absence of a plethora of their first-choice cricketers, turned the tables on Australia in spectacular fashion, scripting a historic Test series win Down Under.

Also Read: Possible ICC World Test Championship Scenarios After The Postponement Of Australia-South Africa Test Series