How many of you know VVS Laxman’s full name? Wait. Don’t google. Because we all tell. His full name is Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman. Most of the Indian cricket fans don’t know his name because they all call him Laxman.
Similarly, there are so many other cricketers who are known mostly by their surnames. Their name might not be as big and difficult as VVS Laxman, but they are still called by their surnames and not first names.
There is no particular reason behind this behaviour. In cricket, players usually carry surnames on their jerseys and commentators also call them by the names on their jerseys.
In this post, we will talk about Indian cricketers who are called only by their surnames.
1) Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa has a big fan base in India. He started his career as a very aggressive middle order batsman in limited overs cricket and fans love his hard-hitting and flamboyant style of batting. Indian cricket fans address Robin Uthappa only as Uthappa. He has a very easy and common name– Robin– but fans prefer to call him Uthappa.
Have you heard Indian cricket fans fans addressing Robin Uthappa as Robin? Maybe. There are a few. But, most of them call him ‘Uthappa’.
2) Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman (VVS Laxman)
One of the best Test batsmen in Indian cricket history, Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman is popularly known as VVS Laxman. In fact, fans in India like to call him only ‘Laxman’. But, fans have given a special full form to VVS- Very Very Special Laxman.
Have you heard Indian cricket fans fans addressing VVS Laxman as Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman? No. They call him just ‘Laxman’.
3) Shanthakumaran Sreesanth
“In the air Sreesanth takes it.” No Indian cricket fan can ever forget this line. It was the moment when Sreesanth took a catch that made India first evert World T20 Champions in 2007. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is also one of those cricketers who are known by their surnames.
Have you heard Indian cricket fans fans addressing Shanthakumaran? Very few. Just a handful. They all call him ‘Sreesanth’
4) Cheteshwar Pujara
One of the best Test batsmen in India at the moment, Cheteshwar Pujara is an old-fashioned cricketer who is ready to comprise limited-overs cricket, T20s and money for Test cricket. Many say that he is the backbone of India’s batting line up in Test cricket. Pujara is also one of those cricketers who aren’t called by their names. Fans in India and everywhere call him Pujara, and not Cheteshwar.
Have you heard Indian cricket fans fans addressing him as Cheteshwar. Again, very few. They all like to call him Pujara.
5) Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is another Indian cricketer who is known mostly by his surname. Fans either call him Jaddu or Jadeja. Only a few call him Ravindra or Ravi. He is one of the most important members of Indian cricket, across all three formats of the game.
Have you heard Indian cricket fans fans addressing him as Ravindra? Again, not many. Fans like to him Jadeja or Jaddu.
6) Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumarh also belongs to the same league of Indian cricketers. He is one of the best fast bowlers in limited overs cricket at the moment. Fans in India, and across the world, don’t call him by his first name i.e. Jasprit. They all call him Bumrah.
Have you heard Indian cricket fans fans addressing him as Jasprit. No. They all call him Bumrah.
7) Mohammed Shami
Shami is a very fine fast bowler who is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in India. Like all other cricketers mentioned in this post above, he is also called by his surname by fans.
Have you heard Indian cricket fans fans addressing him as Mohammed? No. They all call him Shami.
8) Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina, not long ago, was an important member of India’s listed overs cricket squad. But, now, he is struggling to make a comeback. He is also called mostly by his surname. Fans in India don’t call him Suresh. They all like to call him Raina.
9) MS Dhoni
Last but surely not the least, former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is also known mostly his surname. Fans in India and around the world call him only Dhoni.
Have you heard Indian cricket fans fans addressing him as Mahendra? No, not really. They call him Dhoni.
By Shivam Behl
