Rahul Sharad Dravid: The Wall shall stand firm!

Unbeaten: Rahul Sharad Dravid

It was the year 1999, I was 8 and a half years old and had started remembering the names of Indian cricketers. Of course, cricket came into my life the day I saw Sachin whacking Warne all over the park in the year 1998. For me cricket was limited to a few names. Only few out of those players had left an impression on me. Sachin was one and then there was Ajit Agarkar, yes Sir aggy was a favourite. He was lethal in his early days and he could swing his willow as well.

But there was one man who has been an inspiration right from my childhood days. The world knows him as Rahul Sharad Dravid. This guy was a bit more interesting. He wore another pair of gloves under his main set of gloves and also used a different helmet which had an extra protection over the ears. Irony is that Dravid, in spite of this extra protection, had to undergo a surgery near his ear and this was supervised by a person who became Mrs. Rahul Dravid in the years that followed.

Every girl, be it in teens or twenties, had a crush on this guy. Well, he was not someone who used to hit those towering sixes, but his classical stance with a Britannia sponsored willow in his hand mesmerised many. Critics, oh yes, the critics, the most idiotic people in any field, wrote him off. They rated him as somebody who could never succeed in limited overs cricket. Rahul did shut them off and did it in a way which the whole world has been a witness to.

Rahul was a team player. For him his position in the line-up never mattered. India had tried and tested many guys who could don the big gloves and could also contribute with the bat, but unfortunately all of them failed. This was a moment when Dravid stepped in and took up the responsibility of a wicket-keeper in addition to being a specialist batsman. And he did impress. When the Indian team were running short of openers, he again stepped in and opened the innings. This guy had only one motive all throughout his life, and that motive was success for India.

Nobody in the world had the ability to duck under sharp bouncers by Shoaib Akhtar better than Dravid. And he could do it all day long. The man with the most elegant and classic strokes in his kitty got a chance to lead Indian cricket and did it commendably, apart the 2007 World Cup which was horrific. Right from the start of his career Dravid has been known for is timing. Even his retirement came at a time when he knew he could have gone on and played Test cricket at least for a year or so.

Rajasthan Royals had become an example of ‘flash in the pan’ until Dravid took over. The spot-fixing saga happened and the Indian cricket got a jolt. Yet again Dravid stood by the team and guided players like Sanju Samson and Ajinkya Rahane to set up a semi-final clash in the IPL and a place in the Champions league T20. One can go on and on writing a million words about this great man whom nobody in this world can disrespect.

Rahul Dravid has been a true gentleman of the game and from the time I have started following cricket, nobody else can replace this stud. He is not yet finished. He will be seen in different roles nurturing Indian cricket and taking it to a higher level.