Despite having a successful career in Tests, VVS Laxman's limited overs career failed to take off as he played only 86 ODIs, and was dropped from South-Africa-bound India's 2003 World Cup.
Reflecting on the omission, former India captain Sourav Ganguly has said: "maybe it was a mistake". He made these comments during the Kolkata leg of Laxman's autobiography '281 and Beyond' launch.
"Laxman was a player who could have done well in all formats. In hindsight, maybe it was a mistake. As a captain, you make decisions and things happen which may not be right or wrong," Ganguly said.
Describing this as the darkest phase of his career, Laxman said he had actually contemplated quitting when he went for a vacation with his friends in the USA.
"But then I realised, that I did not become a cricketer to play the World Cup but it was for the sport. I was being childish.
"I told myself 'I was among the lucky few who got this opportunity and I should not let it go'," Laxman recalled.
He scored a superb 102 against Australia in Gwalior and followed it up with three more centuries in the triangular series, involving Australia and Zimbabwe.
Sharing more anecdotes from the epic Kolkata Test, Laxman said the Eden match taught them life lessons.
"Everyone contributed in the Test. Even substitute Hemang Badani took a blinder fielding at forward-short-leg," Laxman said.
"That aggression in the team was infectious. We felt for each other in the team."
The programme was also attended by his former India pace spearhead Zaheer Khan.
