VVS Laxman on Thursday paid tribute to Gautam Gambhir, saying that the former Indian opener was totally obsessed with the game and never shied away from a challenge that came his way on the cricket field.

"Massively inquisitive and totally obsessed with the game, Gautam Gambhir never shied away from a challenge on a cricket field. Whether it was taking on express pace bowlers on spicy tracks overseas or standing up for a wronged teammate, he knew not what it was to back down," Laxman said in a tweet.