September 16, 2011

All eyes at Sophia Gardens on Friday September 16, 2011 will be on the great ‘Wall’ of Indian Cricket –Rahul Dravid. Whether he scores well or not, certainly it is the last time Dravid fans will witness him in the Blue uniform of Indian ODI (One-day Cricket International) squad.

Being a die-hard fan of Mr Dependable Dravid, I personally have a high admiration for the man. Right from the days I acquired knowledge about the game of cricket I have keenly been following his matches. His determination, perseverance, unique batting techniques and commitment to the team has immensely impressed me and the very reason goes for this small dedication to the fine hero of Indian Cricket.

In 343 matches, Dravid has scored 10,820 runs, averaging 39.06 and at a strike-rate of 71.16. Adding to it, Dravid also has 196 catches and 14 stumpings to his credit. Rahul Dravid is no whirlwind that sweeps the opposition away. He is more like a woodpecker that chips away silently and the results are sure to follow.

In One-day form of cricket it has not been an easy ride for Dravid. Though he made his debut in 1996 he had to be patient enough to be successful and well-recognised. Taking the responsibility of wicket-keeping, captaincy was never easy but he did manage it to some extent. When he felt captaincy is not meant for him he humbly gave it away to concentrate more on his batting.

Well, I’m sure many would disagree with me when I say he is one of the superb players even in One Day form of cricket. Though his style of batting may not be so suitable for 50-over matches, one cannot ignore the number of one-day matches that are won by Indians merely because of Dravid. One will not find another selfless player like Dravid anywhere. There are so many instances  where all the major Indian batsmen were sent straight to pavilion but Dravid was the only one who came to team’s rescue. It is an undeniable fact that he has successfully scored runs ‘Under Pressure’ for the Indian team. Ask the opposition team and they’ll tell you how annoying Dravid can be if he is well set.

‘If the concept of extra payment for over time and deduction for no work existed in Indian Cricket Team  ... Rahul Dravid would have been richest and more than half the team would have been bankrupt by now’. I recently came across these lines and it did make me smile and isn’t it true in a way? He is one of the few cricketers who play for the team and not just for individual records.

Suman Rao, one of the great fans of Rahul Dravid says, “He may not be born great. But he is the true example of the line that greatness can be achieved through hard work and grit” He is a real role-model for budding cricketers, he adds.

Meghna Bhat, another strong admirer of Dravid says, “He puts team interest before his and shrugs off any praises in this regard reiterating time and again that the very character is part of the game. He is the true student of the game and true to the ethics of the game. He never revealed anything that happened in the dressing room and has been Mr Clean, especially his career being devoid of controversial remarks about the game or the players which speaks of his high integrity”.

Various Cricketing Records

Dravid is the second Indian batsman, after Sachin Tendulkar, and the third international player to reach 12,000 runs in Test cricket. On 14 February 2007, he became the sixth player over all and the third Indian (after Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly) to score 10,000 runs in ODI cricket in cricketing history. He is the first and only batsman to score a century in all ten Test playing nation. With more than 200 catches, Dravid currently holds the world record for the most number of catches in Test cricket. Dravid has also been involved in more than 80 century partnerships with 18 different partners and has been involved in 19 century partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar – a world record.

When Dravid dons the India cap, goes out into the middle with the rest of the pack and smells the grass, he knows there is just one way to perform – by giving one hundred percent for the country. Till date, no one can say that he has ever given one percent less.

Luckily for Dravid fans including me, he has not announced his retirement from Tests and we can still watch him play for days together focussed, calm and cool as ever.