The Silken Strokes: Laxman, Azharuddin, and Viswanath

The Silken Strokes: Laxman, Azharuddin, and Viswanath

In cricket’s vast tapestry, where grit meets glory, three Indian virtuosos—VVS Laxman, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Gundappa Viswanath—etched strokes of immortal artistry. Their bats, like poets’ pens, danced across pitches, weaving elegance from chaos. With wrists that whispered grace and timing that hummed with serenity, they transformed creases into canvases. This lyrical tribute celebrates their enchanting batting, where every drive was a verse, every flick a fleeting sonnet.

Gundappa Viswanath
Gundappa Viswanath, the diminutive ‘Vishy,’ was a maestro whose bat spun silken threads across cricket’s rugged landscapes. His wristy strokes, delicate as a poet’s sigh, turned hostile wickets into stages for artistry. “Viswanath was a wristy genius, much before the likes of Mohammad Azharuddin and VVS Laxman arrived who took the batting style to a different level,” wrote Chinmay Jawalekar, heralding Vishy as a pioneer of elegance. His 124 against West Indies in 1978-79 on a fiery Madras pitch was a defiant ode, each stroke a brushstroke of defiance. “He emphasized timing rather than power and his elegant square cuts and wristy shots translated into poetry at the crease,” noted Sportskeeda, his late cuts teasing keepers like a lover’s fleeting glance. “Vishwanath, hailing from Karnataka, was probably the inspiration for two elegant Hyderabadi players,” another scribe mused, his feline grace a template for generations. His 97 not out against West Indies in 1974-75, amidst a crumbling lineup, was “heroic,” a testament to his crisis-defying poise. “His shots were never too powerfully hit nor too weak,” wrote Lalit Kumar, their buttery glide a visual symphony that seemed to pause time. “The wristy shots from this Karnataka genius were a treat to watch,” added Cricket Country, his square cuts and glances flowing like a river, serene yet unstoppable. Vishy’s batting was a delicate dance, his wrists flicking with the tenderness of a calligrapher, each stroke a verse etched in memory. On bouncy tracks in Christchurch or dusty Indian turfs, he wove elegance into resilience, his 14 Test centuries a gallery of masterpieces. His artistry, understated yet profound, left bowlers bewitched and spectators entranced, his bat singing a timeless ballad that echoed through cricket’s hallowed corridors.

Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin, the Hyderabadi enchanter, wielded his bat like a sorcerer’s wand, conjuring strokes that shimmered with divine grace. His wristwork, a cascade of fluid flicks, transformed pitches into galleries of ethereal art. “Such was the panache in his batting, he resembled classical batting at its very best,” wrote Sportskeeda, his strokes a spell that left bowlers entranced. “Gower was perhaps the prototype for batsmen like Mohammad Azharuddin,” another observed, likening his elegance to a swordsman’s graceful flourish. His cover drives, as Azharuddin himself reflected, echoed Sachin’s finesse, yet his wristy flicks were uniquely his, “stroking the ball anywhere in the ground.” “Laxman was known for exquisite timing and like his role model Mohammed Azharuddin, he too was known for his magical wrist-work,” noted Cricketnmore, cementing his legacy as an inspiration. “The only two who come to mind from India are Azharuddin and Vishwanath when one has to think of batsmen who seldom made the ‘thok’ sound,” Sportskeeda added, their ‘chik’ a melody of finesse. His 110 on debut against England in 1984 was a silken proclamation, his wrists pirouetting to send balls racing with a lover’s caress. “Azharuddin’s batting was a visual delight, his flicks and drives a symphony of timing,” wrote another, his elegance a beacon on dusty Indian pitches or foreign greens. His 37.33 Test average abroad defied pace’s fury, his bat weaving tapestries of resilience. Azhar’s artistry was a rhapsody, his strokes flowing like a river’s gentle current, each flick a note in a serenade that captivated onlookers. From Eden Gardens to Lord’s, his batting was a poetic rebellion, leaving opponents enchanted and defeated in a dance of silken strokes.

VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman, the ‘Very Very Special’ maestro, painted cricket’s canvas with strokes of divine elegance, his bat an extension of his soul. His artistry, a blend of resilience and grace, turned matches into poetry. “When VVS bats out there the only one thing you can ask yourself is not to get carried away,” Sachin Tendulkar warned, such was his hypnotic charm. His 281 against Australia in 2001, “rated as one of the top ten test batting performances” by Wisden, was a symphony of defiance, each stroke a stanza of hope. “His shots are never too powerfully hit nor too weak… they hardly ever catch the ball once it is hit by VVS,” wrote Lalit Kumar, their buttered glide a visual feast that seemed to defy physics. Rahul Dravid praised, “When he walks in… he brings calm to the whole dressing room,” his elegance a soothing balm in turbulent chases. “His on-side game is comparable to his idol Azharuddin’s, yet he is decidedly more assured on the off side,” noted ESPNcricinfo, his versatility a painter’s palette. “Laxman caressed the ball through gaps, like he was orchestrating a tender kiss,” wrote Sportskeeda, his wristy flicks a lover’s whisper. His 41.4 average against Australia’s fearsome attack glowed like a beacon, his cover drives and flicks sculpting victories from despair. “VVS Laxman’s batting was a serene flow, his wrists weaving dreams,” another scribe wrote, his strokes a delicate dance across the crease. On Kolkata’s hallowed turf or Sydney’s green expanse, Laxman’s bat sang, turning crises into canvases of triumph, his 17 Test centuries a gallery of silken masterpieces that left spectators spellbound.

In Summation
Laxman, Azharuddin, and Viswanath, India’s trinity of batting poets, wove strokes that danced like verses on a timeless page. Their wrists, nimble as quills, spun elegance from chaos, their timing a melody that soothed souls. From Vishy’s pioneering grace to Azhar’s enchanting flicks and Laxman’s defiant serenades, they crafted a legacy of beauty. Their bats, singing through cricket’s ages, left echoes of artistry that still whisper across the game’s eternal crease.