V V S Laxman is an important cog in the Indian middle order, often regarded as the best in the world.
After making his debut against South Africa in 1996-1997, his position in the batting order was constantly juggled with, till he produced that match-winning knock of 281 against Australia, in March 2001 at Kolkata.
Since then, the 30 year old played 31 Tests, scoring 2,929 runs at 52.30, including six centuries and 15 half-centuries. During this period India won 16 Tests, which also included one in Australia, and the historic series triumph in Pakistan.
But against Pakistan, his record (262 runs in 6 Tests at 26.20) is nothing to shout about and, surely, he'll be looking to improve upon it in the upcoming series against India's arch-rivals.
The Hyderabad ace spoke with Contributing Sports Correspondent Harish Kotian on how he plans to do it.
Are you happy with your preparation for the Pakistan series? Since returning from Bangladesh you have consistently played domestic cricket and now the Duleep Trophy.
Yes, absolutely! I always feel that match practice is the best kind of practice. I am really happy I am playing lot of domestic matches. Now we have got two Duleep Trophy matches before the first Test against Pakistan, so I am very satisfied with the amount of practice I am getting.
Are you happy with the level of competition in the Duleep Trophy, since all the leading Indian players are taking part?
Yes, it's always good that all the national players who represent the country also come and play for their association or zone. And when the best play against each other, the competition will definitely be good and the youngsters will have a lot of learning experience.
Sachin Tendulkar just announced he is fit for the Pakistan series? How big a boost is it for the Indian team?
It's a huge boost. A player of the calibre of Sachin is a great bonus for any team, whether is Mumbai, West Zone or India.
He has won so many matches for India for the past 15 years, so I am quite sure that only the mere presence of Sachin will enable us to have a lot of positive vibes in the team.
Pakistan will be without their key bowler Shoaib Akhtar; plus most of their fast bowlers are coming back from injury? Does it give India the edge?
No, I don't think so. Whether Shoaib plays or not, we still have the potential to do really well. Instead of concentrating on who is coming and who is not coming, we should be concentrating on doing well and performing to our potential.
How big a blow do you think it is for Pakistan to lose Shoaib for such a vital series?
Definitely, it is a big blow, because Shoaib has been their main strike bowler since the retirement of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
But, at the same time, they have got good bowlers in Mohammad Sami and Naved-ul-Hasan Rana who have done reasonably well in the past.
The last time when Pakistan toured India, in 1998-99, for a two-Test series, you did not have a good time, scoring 66 runs in the two Tests at 16.50. How are you preparing for Pakistan this time around?
Yes, I scored 66 in the two Tests of that series, but after that in the Kolkata Test (in the Asian Test Championship against Pakistan), I scored 67 in the second innings.
At that time I was opening the batting that never came natural to me. I have been saying this repeatedly. But now I am in a different position, where I am batting in the middle order; also, I am more experienced and a more matured batsman than I was in 1999. So, definitely, I am more confident of winning matches this time around than I was in that series.
You have always played leg-spinners well, the best example being Shane Warne. Pakistan have a good leg spinner in Danish Kaneria. How do you rate him?
He is a very good bowler. He doesn't give anything easy; he bowls a consistent line and length. He will be quite a handy bowler for Pakistan. I think he will be the strike bowler for them.
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Your batting position in the team has been constantly changed. If given the choice, where would you like to bat at? No 3 or at no 6?
As long as it is in the middle order I am quite satisfied wherever I bat.
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Bowlers constantly add variations to their bowling. Is it the same for your batting also? Have you added anything to your batting recently?
Yes. It is a process of improving upon what you were the day before. It is an on-going process of improving your overall game; not only batting, but also your fielding and bowling.
So, I have definitely become a much better batsman than what I was one year back.
Australia had worked out a strategy for you when they toured India by having extra fielders on the leg-side? How did you counter it, particularly in the last Test in Mumbai when you played that match-winning knock of 69?
In that series I was getting out quite early, without setting down. The moment you settle down, it is just a matter of spending more time in the middle.
Once you settle down then you can definitely wait for the loose deliveries instead of rushing into and getting trapped by their plans. So it was very important that I settled down and waited for their loose deliveries. That was the main intention when I played in Mumbai.
What is it about Australia that always produces the best out of V V S Laxman?
It's a coincidence. I have always done well against Australia right from my Under-19 days. In 1994, when I played for India Under-19, I really did well against them.
It gives me a lot of satisfaction saying that I have really done well against the best side in the world.
You normally set targets for every season. What are your targets for this season?
At the moment I am looking to play some match-winning knocks against Pakistan in the Test series, so that is my immediate target. I am not really thinking beyond that.
I just want to try and win the series for India, and whenever, given an opportunity, to try and play some match-winning knocks.
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