Rahul Dravid
turned 39 today. He is a beleaguered batsman of a beleaguered unit. He
was the first person to the nets today. About 15 minutes into his throw
downs, with no other Indian players around the practice pitches, Dravid
was approached by the media manager and asked to address a press
conference.
What you see in italics above is an excerpt from today's cricinfo article written by Sid Monga. Just for the record, he happens to be my favourite author on cricinfo; just for the amount of poetry that goes into every Dravid article he writes.
Back in 1996, at the "Home of Cricket", two young gentlemen made their debut for India. One man batted at no.3 and made 131; another batted at no.7 and made 95. The two debutantes shared a partnership of 94 runs. My eldest cousin sister was getting married that day; the marriage hall had a TV in one of the rooms in the upper floors; something about him, kept me glued to the TV set. I was 12, cricket was just another sport back then; but still he made me watch; like the rest of the World; I paid no heed to the man at the other end!
And from that day on, whenever Rahul Dravid did something extraordinary; which was most of the time, the spotlight always shone on someone else. How and when Dada overtook Sachin as my favourite player; how and when Dravid overtook Dada as my favourite player, I will never know.
It was the '99 World Cup, when I challenged my Uncle without knowing what I was getting into; that Dravid would be the best performer. He commented saying Dravid was only good for eating Jam, that was the time when he featured in the Kissan Jam advertisements :). I am unsure if that comment triggered the affection, or the challenge, or the overwhelming joy that he fulfilled my challenge!
To this day; Rahul Dravid is the only cricketer for whom I have had an overwhelming affection. I had; and still have a passion for Dada; he is the best thing to have happened to Indian Cricket ever! Sachin; if you are born in India and if you like cricket and if you don't like him, you are insane. There are a lot who claim him to be selfish, useless, scores in lost causes only; yes, they are all insane!
Rahul Dravid, is a fighter. Each and every century he has scored can be used as a lesson for life. The fluency in some of those knocks; the support provided to a flourishing batsman; the struggle he undergoes in constructing some of those innings. There is a lesson to be learnt in every knock.
At 38; 2011 has been the best year for him. It all started with that dogged century he made in a winning cause at Jamaica. Then came a tour that the country will want to forget. I would have enjoyed the tour if I was ONLY a Dravid fan. Like him, I happen to love the team too, all his spectacular contributions were eclipsed. When usually his contributions are eclipsed by a bigger contribution from someone else, this time it was eclipsed by embarrassing losses.
Nonetheless; at 39; when someone has nothing left to prove to anyone, he still turns up first to practice, when he still wants to learn and correct his mistakes; how can anyone not like him!
Signing off with all the hope for one more special Dravid innings. For the sake of the team. For the sake of the fan. For the sake of the game...
