I had to follow my inner voice: Laxman
After scoring 11,119 runs in 220 international matches, an emotional V.V.S. Laxman walked off the cricket ground in a dark suit and not the white flannels that had been the dominant dress during his16-year career. It was a poignant moment as Laxman sauntered through the field at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium clasping his son Sarvajit’s hand before he climbed the steps leading to the home dressing room and headed home with his family members.
Moments earlier, the middle-order batsman had shocked everyone by saying, “I would like to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.”
This raised eyebrows especially with a Test at home coming up next week. And he’s been picked in the side. But a non-chalant Laxman went on. “It has been 16 years since I made my international debut for India and I feel it’s the right time to move on. I must have disappointed a lot of well wishers, who would have loved to watch me play my last Test at my home ground. I sincerely apologise to them.”
There were enough hints that he was quitting because of the comments made by former players that he was blocking chances of youngsters. “I have always kept the country’s success and needs ahead of my personal aspirations and hence, while I would have loved to be contributing to the team success against England and Australia later in the season, I think it’s the right time to give the opportunity to groom a youngster in home conditions before the tough tours overseas next year,” the battle-scarred Laxman said, maintaining his poise.
Probed why he was calling it quits ahead of the series, Laxman said he had been contemplating retirement of late. He admitted “it was a tough decision but you have to follow your inner voice.”
“I’ve always read and listened to a lot of sportspersons saying that at the end of your career there will be a certain thought, a feeling within you which will tell that a day has come when you have to leave the sport and move on,” he said, explaining his inner voice.
“It was quite a surprise. We were expecting him to play the series against Australia as well as England later this year,” said his wife Sailaja, who was seen fighting back tears while her husband was announcing his retirement.
To a pointed question whether he was disturbed by remarks made by the commentators, Laxman simply said: “In a country where circket is more a religion than sport if you try to satisfy each and everyone it is next to impossible.”
That he communicated his decision “to the chairman of selection committee as well as the BCCI president only this (Saturday) morning” is evidence that there is more than what meets the eye. How did they react? “They were surprised and definitely not happy. I must say that they have accepted my decision with great reluctance.”
Laxman insisted there was no pressure on him to quit.
“You’d never want to leave. You always love the game because that’s what you’re passionate about and that passion actually drives you forward,” said Laxman.
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