Lakshmipathy Balaji
Name: Lakshmipathy Balaji
Born: September 27, 1981
Plays For: Kolkata Knight Riders
Country: India
Role: Bowler & Lower-order batsman
Batting Style: Right handed
Bowling Style: Right arm fast medium pace
About Lakshmipathy Balaji
No player would like to forget his debut in international cricket unless it is someone like Lakshmipathy Balaji.
He did have very forgettable outings that might have easily made him think over being a cricketer for a long time. There was nothing going his way and things were fast looking gloomy for him.
However, fate changed for him when India visited Pakistan for an ODI and Test tour in the 2003-04 season.
He was in the limelight for the entire tour and was simply the bowler India always looked up to in difficult times. On that tour came his career best figures in Tests of 4/63, though he bettered them later.
His innocent smile was the talk of the entire series when the crowd loved every bit of Lakshmipathy Balaji.
However, 2005 was the year that virtually ended Balaji as a cricketer. It was a stress fracture that took its toll on the bowler. A back surgery was needed though it was unsure that would help him bring back on the field.
However, it was the effort of Tamil Nadu coach W V Raman that helped Balaji make a comeback to cricket.
