His teammates still call him ‘Very Very Special Laxman’ and it is only on meeting him does one realise why they do — a perfect gentleman with a word of gratitude for everyone who has played a role in his cricket journey. VVS Laxman was in Calcutta to launch his book 281 and Beyond (published by Westland Sports, Rs 699) when we caught up with him at Taj Bengal for a chat.

How does it feel crossing Eden Gardens every time you are in Calcutta?

Oh! It feels great not only for the 281, it definitely was one of the most iconic matches the team and I were involved in. But every time I come to Calcutta, right from the time I arrive at the airport till the time I leave, the love, warmth and affection I get from the Bengali people, it’s unbelievable and cannot be expressed in words. I feel as if I am from this place — like this is a homecoming. Eden Gardens is of course my favourite ground, with a lot of memories associated with it. And that ground is special not only because the wicket is suitable for my style of batting, it boils down to the crowd there. The amount of support that we get, the buzz is unparalleled.

Do you have a specific Calcutta ritual?

I try and visit Kalighat every time I am here to seek the blessings of the Goddess. I cannot succumb to the temptation of sweets, so I avoid them at all cost.

Back in the day, which bowler did you fear the most?

When you play international cricket, it gives you the opportunity to test yourself against the best and during my time as international cricketer, I was fortunate enough to play against the best bowlers of world cricket, be it fast bowlers or spinners. For me, the most challenging bowler was Wasim Akram. He was very skilful and he had a lot of variations. He could swing the new ball, or old ball, and more importantly have control over all those variations.

With whom did you have the most comfortable partnership on field?

With everyone. I am very fortunate about that. While batting or even while fielding, the kind of rapport I have had, the kind of friendship I had with my mates, it translated on the field. We enjoyed each other’s company, which is so important, and we continue to do that.

Off the pitch, which friendships do you cherish?

If you see the various events we have had so far, the camaraderie, the bonding, the friendship is unmatched. And again, I am very fortunate. When you play at the highest level, the level of competition and aggressiveness is really high. You end up being result-oriented and process-driven. But while doing all this, we didn’t miss the human element, which was feeling for each other, helping each other, being satisfied and happy when someone is achieving success, or feeling bad when someone is going through a lean phase, thinking about how to help the player come out of that phase. We had a group of individuals in the team who always used to think like that.

You have often spoken about luck playing a role...

It really plays a huge role, there is no doubt about that, especially in a sport. It’s not necessary that every time you prepare well, you will succeed. Whether you call it luck or destiny, sometimes there are things that are beyond your control. You may bat well but suddenly an umpire can give a bad decision. Or you may be batting well and scoring close to 100 but you may suddenly be run out. Or you may not be playing well but suddenly a catch may be dropped. So I believe that luck plays a very important role.

Something that I learnt the hard way is that you can’t worry about things that are not in your control. And the only thing that is in your control is the way you think, the way you approach something, the way you play. At any level, preparation and your mental attitude are paramount.

What was your biggest fan moment when you started playing international cricket?

I was a big fan of Kapil paaji and Sunil Gavaskar. Coming from Hyderabad, Azharuddin was one of my role models. He was someone I looked up to and when I was able to play Test cricket with him, it was a great moment for me. Sachin was another such person. He made his debut when I was playing under-16.

What has been your experience of the IPL?

My IPL experience, as a player, was something that I could have done better. There are two reasons. One, I compromised on my natural game in trying to do something that I was not capable of doing. Now when I introspect, I realise that I would have been more successful had I played my natural style in the T20 format.

Second, Test cricket was something I understood and was comfortable with. You tend to have a lot of belief in your ability to perform in that format. Whereas the T20 format was relatively new and I took time to understand what I should be doing to perform in that format. Unfortunately by then, it was too late. I did not get too many opportunities to perform in that format. I ensured that whatever I learnt from the experience, I used that to be a better mentor to Sunrisers Hyderabad, which I am glad I have been able to do.

Do you enjoy watching the T20 format?

Oh, I love watching it! IPL has a lot of advantages. I mean everything has its positives and negatives but I am a positive person so I only focus on the advantages. Because of IPL, the amount of encouragement parents are giving their kids to pursue cricket is unbelievable. The fan pool as well as the talent pool has increased and that’s good news for Team India. You need encouragement from your parents at the early stages of your career. Otherwise, in India, parents push their kids towards academics, which is good, but if a kid has talent, it is important to recognise it right at a young age.

Which new kid on the block do you find promising?

I am very impressed with the way Shubman Gill has played over the last one-and-a-half years. There is something about him that I really like and I think he has a bright future. I think in the current Indian team there are a lot of youngsters who will shine.

Are your kids interested in sports?

My son is 11 and he is into cricket, swimming and kabaddi. My daughter is 10; she loves dancing and music, and in sports she loves swimming and tennis. I am lucky that both of them are outdoorsy people.