Beyond 281

148 (Aus, Adelaide 2003)

This might have gone down as Rahul Dravid’s finest hour,but it was Laxman’s incisive batting that took India out of a hole—85/4 against Australia’s first innings total of 556—and pushed the hosts onto the backfoot. Laxman contributed 148 in a partnership of 303—a repeat of Kolkata—with Dravid,which eventually led to India’s first win on Australian soil in 30 years.

103* (SL, Colombo 2010)

The series seemed Sri Lanka’s as India slipped to 62/4,chasing 257 on a crumbling P Sara Oval wicket. Laxman looked unruffled as ever though as he blazed away to a century,leading India to a comfortable victory and more importantly exorcising their fourth innings demons.

73* (Aus, Mohali 2010)

The day Laxman lost his cool but not his nerve as he led India to a nerve-wracking one-wicket win over the Aussies. Chasing 216,India looked out of it at 124/8. But Laxman,batting on one leg,took India home single-handedly — adding 81 with Ishant Sharma — while also providing a rare display of his temper.

96 (SA, Durban 2010)

The No.1 Test team’s fortunes hung in the balance as they slumped to 48/3 in their second innings,just 122 ahead and the Kingsmead wicket playing tricks aplenty. Despite wickets falling all around him,Laxman continued to be positive and sublime. He fell four runs short of a century,but it was Laxman’s 96 that set up India’s morale-boosting maiden victory at Durban.