Tendulkar leads wishes on Laxman's birthday

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar led Twitterites to wish former India Test great V.V.S. Laxman, who turned 42 on Tuesday.

"Happy Birthday Lachi @VVSLaxman281, a fantastic team man, a great human being who always wanted to do something special for India!" tweeted Tendulkar.

"Thank you very much @sachin_rt," the Hyderabad right-hander replied.

Once teammates and now head coach of the national cricket team Anil Kumble also took to social media to wish Laxman.

"Many happy returns of the day @VVSLaxman281 Have a wonderful day and a great year ahead! God bless!"

Known for his hilarious tweets, swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag used a popular 'Sholay' reference while wishing his former teammate.

"Happy Birthday @VVSLaxman281 . If Vanigurappa Venkata Sai ji was in Sholay, Gabbar would have said "Yeh kalaai (wrist) humka dede Laxman."

"Thank you very much @virendersehwag Gabbar," was Laxman's prompt reply.

Former India batter Hemang Badani wrote that Laxman was the nicest man he knew on the cricket ground.

"Happy birthday to the nicest man I know on the cricket field @VVSLaxman281. Have a wonderful year buddy."

Laxman was one of the mainstays of the Indian middle order during the early 2000s and his innings of 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens here is still remembered as one of the best knocks in cricket history.

In his illustrious Test career, Laxman scored 17 centuries and 56 fifties with an impressive average of 45.97.

--IANS

dm/tri/bg