"I hope his back's pretty sore for next week as well and he can't play," Ricky Ponting once paid a back-handed compliment to Australia's nemesis, VVS Laxman.

Sanjay Manjrekar once said, “If you’re to be wristy, you have to born in Hyderabad.” This Hyderabadi is noted for the skilful use of his wrists, which helps flicking the ball and Md. Azharuddin happens to be his role model (another Hyderabadi). Even he admitted that Laxman has better timing and execution than him.

The nickname “Very Very Special “ Laxman was given by former Australian captain, Ian Chappell. The Padma Shri award winner is crestfallen after the remarks of the likes of Gavaskars, Manjrekars, and Ganguly’s about his fitness and form. But every time he used to come as a resurrector in dire straits and makes the selectors mouth shut. Who can forget the memorable Kolkata Test in 2001? Aussies were riding high on a 15-test match wins back to back. Laxman alone carried the onus on his shoulders to pull back India to victory. Harbhajan tried to send jitters to the Aussies with his spin in the series. The turbinator got a hat-trick. I remember one of the advertisements of Amul butter at that time, “Har Aussie to Bhajan karna chahiye.” It was quite true because with the sharp bounce and spin, Bhajji was getting, the Aussies wickets were tumbling like a pack of cards in the Test series of 2001.

There can be somersault shots, helicopter shots, but one wristy shot from Laxman is really a treat to the eyes, and only he can do that, right lachayya?