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I am fit: Laxman
"The leg is really improving, the mobility is much better. I'm looking forward to the final," the batsman tells Jaideep Ghosh. Pictures
VVS Laxman holds a crucial place in the Indian batting order. He is the link, and often the last man between the middle-order and the tail, and in the past couple of years, he has played that role admirably.
He has been in the headlines here for all the wrong reasons. After he got injured, there was a lot of noise about whether he would go back or not, and who would replace him. But as things stand now, Laxman is very much in Sri Lanka, and may well be seen in action in the Asia Cup final.
For starters, the injury is not on the knee, but on the side of the leg, just behind the kneecap. It was an extremely unlucky injury, considering that the ball found the little gap left by the pad thrice over two weeks.
While there is no longer any pain, the leg is still stiff, though that too is receding at an encouraging pace. "It (the leg) is improving," Laxman said, speaking to the Hindustan Times.
"We have another three day days before the final.”
Asked about the confusion surrounding the replacement, he said: "They asked for a replacement because they wanted to play seven batsmen against Sri Lanka as it was a do-or-die game for us.
Unfortunately the India 'A' team is in Zimbabwe so they didn't find anyone. But they knew that I would be fit for the final so they asked me to stay back.
"The leg is really improving, the mobility is much better. There was a lot of swelling and inflammation in my left knee. I got hit thrice in one week. I'm looking forward to the final.
"We have three days, I have been swimming, and begun cycling. I will start jogging soon and will get more mobility. It will not hamper my performance in the final. As such I'm pain free, a little stiff, but getting much better.
"It's nothing to do with my knee. It's just a bruise, happened when I got hit by Ashish and Sourav before the Lanka game in Dambulla. Again, while we were practicing before the Pakistan game, I got hit on the same spot by a Zaheer Khan delivery. It was just a bruise and nothing to do with my knee at all. There were many blood clots, lots of swelling and I couldn't bend my knee.
"It's such a freak incident; it was the first time I got hit on that spot and it was rather unfortunate that it happened during the event. It's really freak because the pad is there to protect your knee and legs but it hit me just on the side. Andrew is happy with my progress and we are hoping I will be fit for the final."
The injury seems to have come at a bad time for Laxman, just at the beginning of the new season. "It's very disappointing but we can't predict and feel bad about such freak things. If there is some problem with the back or some knee pain I would have been bothered but it's just a bruise. But it is still unfortunate that it happened at the start of the season and I had to miss three games. It happens in cricket."
Asked if it was difficult for him to sit out the Pakistan game, he said: "It's difficult to miss any game. You want to represent the country in every game and help the team win.
"It was more disappointing to miss the Sri Lanka game because the Lanka match was crucial. The Pakistan game was important but it was the Sri Lankan game that I missed more for we could have been out of the tournament. Luckily the boys did a terrific job. But each game you miss is disappointing."
Asked about his role as the stabilising factor in the side, Laxman says: "Everyone has their role in the team. Last year was so good for me and the team, I was more an anchor for the batting line-up. I used to spend something like 40-45 overs out there and stabilise from one end. It's been going on well and I hope it continues this year. It’s vital to perform in a situation where the team needs you most. I am looking forward to doing that."
The shift to the six-batsman ploy for the Pakistan game also came up for discussion. "The team has been doing really well playing seven batsmen and four bowlers," Laxman says.
"It (change to six batsmen and five bowlers) may not work out immediately if we get out of a set pattern.
"But sometimes, depending on the conditions, the captain has to take a decision. Whatever combination we go in with, everyone in the side is a match-winner. There won't be a huge difference if we change the combination but seven-four has worked wonders for us."
