Related Links : DLF Indian Premier League 2007/08 | VVS Laxman
IPL’s Hyderabad Franchise Deccan Chargers have sacked VVS Laxman as the team’s Captain. The new Captain of the Deccan Chargers is going to be Australia’s legendary wicket keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist. It remains doubtful whether VVS Laxman and Shahid Afridi, who had a spat off the field, will stay in the team or not. Deccan Chargers which appeared to be one of the strongest sides in the IPL bombed completely as they won just two games out of 14 matches in the inaugural season! It was no surprise that they ended last out of the 8 teams, they couldn’t even get the better of even the Bangalore Royal Challengers.
The Deccan Chargers have made another significant change to their team management by replacing former Indian Cricketer Robin Singh with former Australian Cricketer Darren Lehmann, who had worked with the Rajasthan Royals last year. The Deccan Chargers was one of the most expensive team that was bought at at $107.01 Million. VVS Laxman, who was announced as the Iconic player of Hyderabad had sacrificed his status to help the Franchise owner – Deccan Chronicle to get the big names like Andrew Symonds in the team. Although the team was packed with some explosive batsmen, the Chargers were Unstoppable as far as their losing streak went.
VVS Laxman couldn’t lead the side from the front as he was caught in an awkward situation in the middle which never really suited his natural game. Over the years, Laxman has been a drafter of runs and had relied on purist cricketing shots while not really getting the big shots in his batting repertoire. He is a batsman who likes to get himself in before playing his shots which had proved to be his downfall in most of the One Day innings VVS had played. As a result, VVS Laxman could not fulfill his dream of participating in any of the three World Cups during his prime. The artistic batsman has also struggled with his running between the wickets and his athleticism on the field. It was purely the local sentiment of being from Hyderabad that could have got VVS in the Deccan Chargers team, but it was clear that he was not upto the mark to qualify as a Twenty20 player! As far as Deccan Chargers are concerned, they are on the right track by having Adam Gilchrist as the Skipper as he can so easily lead the side through his naturally aggressive batting at the top of the order.