Rahul Dravid - Take a bow

Sometimes, few events stay fresh in your memory. Only to be surprised by the fact that 16 years have gone by. This one dates back to 1996, when I was fully engrossed in Cricket like any other Indian Kid of my age was. World Cup had just finished but the cricket fever still persisted. Surrounded by a group of friends, who were fanatic about cricket, (who still are) the discussion was about the mammoth score that Karnataka had put on the board against Tamil Nadu in Ranji Trophy Finals. No prizes for guessing. It was the emergence of Rahul Sharad Dravid.

After a brilliant domestic performance, he managed to secure a berth in the Indian team for its tour to England, which at that time, was going through a transition phase after the World Cup Semi Final exit. Tour began with a disastrous start at Edbagston. With little expectations from Indian cricket team in Foreign Soil, couple of young Indian cricketers took up the responsibility in their shoulders in Lords.

With a brilliant start to his career in England, this man continued to amaze me at every country where ball seamed and bounced. As a copy book cricketer, his batting has always been a treat to watch. The sound of ball hitting the middle of the willow was as melodious as a Mozart’s tune. An innings of 148 against South Africa in Wanders, Johannesburg was an epic. When the world was criticizing the ability of Indians to play in bouncy wickets, Rahul Dravid stood up tall to pull Alan Donald in a bouncy wicket. Even today, I can visualize that particular innings. Rest, as they say, is history.

If you start looking back, he had his own highs and lows. Lows helped him to elevate to the next level. After being dropped from ODI squad, he came back as a much more versatile cricketer. If records were to support, he was the highest run scorer in 1999 world cup. And at every possible high, he looked to improvise his skills and move forward. Sticking to the definition of “gentleman’s game”, there was hardly an incident or controversy surrounding his cricketing career. With limelight falling focusing on Sachin or Saurav, he was meticulously performing his duties. When the team required a 7^th batsman, he was ready to keep and still contribute meaningfully with the bat. Not to forget the mammoth partnership with VVS Laxman against Australia in Eden Gardens, that helped in re-defining Indian Cricket for the next decade.

If you have to speak about his contribution to test cricket, a four paragraph wouldn’t do enough justification. Be at as opener against England in lords in one of the worst seaming conditions or various crafty innings that he has etched at number 3 spot, his contribution to this form of the game is an epic. To finish it off, he called off at the right time from ODI’s, when he got an opportunity to play again in that format. Outside the 22 yards, he had an outstanding work ethic in attending the nets and practice session. His speech in Bradman’s Oration summarized the cricket acumen he had. Finally, when he realized the fact that he should introspect about his cricketing future, he probably picked the right time to call it the day. As everyone fondly called him the “Wall”, his contributions to our cricket are well written for the future generations to see.