Laxman toils hard on an off-day

Laxman was found practicing in the indoor nets of the Adelaide Oval for close to three hours.

If there is a message for the youngsters, it should be the immediate interpretation of this: Thursday was supposed to be an off day for both teams but not for VVS Laxman. Even as the other players, including his own counterparts preferred to stay indoors, Laxman was found practicing in the indoor nets of the Adelaide Oval for close to three hours.

He was seen going in with Raghavendra DVGI, the team’s throwdown and bowling machine specialist, who has worked with him and other batsmen in the NCA in Bangalore too.

Before he arrived in Adelaide, he was also seen spending a lot of time at the WACA with Duncan Fletcher, after India were bundled out in less than seven sessions, it is understood.

Earlier today, it was reported that the retirement thoughts are yet to invade his mind despite former players asking him to make way for youngsters (Rohit Sharma, to be specific) and speculations from various sources about the BCCI hinting that the, calling Perth test as his “last”.

“When approached by an Indian journalist after the session, the 37-year-old insisted reports of his impending retirement were untrue,” the Australian media reported.

Laxman has only made 102 runs in six innings at an average of 17 so far in this series. He has been under severe pressure to perform as his run drought overseas has been the most discussed topic in the recent times, with the most of the former test cricketers and the media pointing out his wretched run in India’s tour of West Indies, England and Australia.

Despite his predilection to play in/against Australia, he has not been among runs which is an indicator of the aged person that he has become, they argue.

The fourth and the final test will start on January 24 and Virender Sehwag is expected to lead the side in Dhoni’s absence.

His twilight days aren’t going to rewrite the way he is perceived but there he is, hitting the ball hurled at him on an off-day when his own counterparts are comfortably reclining on the sofa. It is a beautiful sight – to watch a player who is past his prime refusing to accept this ‘inevitability’.