Rahul Dravid – The UN“SUNG” HERO!
- Harsh Bindal
- Dec 23, 2018
- 4 min read
Full name Rahul Sharad Dravid
Born January 11, 1973, Indore, MP
Major Teams India, Scotland, Asia XI, Canterbury,ICC World XI, Karnataka, Kent, Marylebone Cricket Club,Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Nickname The Wall
Playing role Top-order batsman
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm off break
Fielding position Occasional wicket-keeper
Education St. Joseph's Boys' High School
Synonym of discipline, class, hard-work, selflessness, patience and more and more, Rahul Dravid, also known as “The Wall and Mr. Dependable”, has been a true legend and an excellent disciple of the game.
Left his favorite #3 spot, opened when asked to open, kept wickets, did everything which he didn’t like to do as a cricketer just to have a proper balance in the team and more importantly “He never complained”, that’s the class of the man.
Started at a tender age of 12, Dravid catched everyone’s eyeballs at the school level and very early found his place in the Karnataka Under-15, U-17 and later U-19 squads.
Dravid smashed bowlers all around the park and his talent didn’t get unnoticed and soon entered the Karnataka Ranji ranks in 1991-92 season.
Ever so consistent with bat in the domestic circle, Dravid was knocking at the door of the National team and finally got his chance in England in 1996.
Dravid’s debut was an interesting one, Sanjay Manjrekar injured his hand the same morning and Dravid was informed he’s going to play just 10 minutes before the toss. He did everything right to make his Test Debut a memorable one and almost got his name on the Lord’s Honor's Board on his debut itself before getting out on 95.
The very same innings where the Prince of Calcutta “Sourav Ganguly” made his test debut as well scoring a brilliant 131-The highest score till date on debut at Lords.
His marked performances came against Sri Lanka in the 1999 ICC World Cup – That time the highest partnership for any wicket in ODIs with Ganguly (318).
This record was bettered by Dravid and Sachin in the same year against New Zealand (331).
The record remained intact for 16 long years. Currently the record is with Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels against Zimbawe (372).
Against Australia, in the memorable Kolkata test in 2001 (Only the second test in the history where a team won after following-on). Dravid played one heck of a knock with VVS Laxman who scored 281.
One cannot forget the famous Adelaide test in 2004, where Dravid scored 233 and 72* in the first and second innings respectively and almost single-handedly gifted India arguably their best test victory overseas.
His 270 in Rawalpindi against Pakistan gave India their first test series win (2-1) on the Pak soil.
Dravid’s love affair with the English conditions is not hidden. He already proved his mettle in England on the 1996 and 2002 tours. But in 2007, he also captained the side and gave them only their third test series win in the UK. The other two captains who achieved this feat were Ajit Wadekar (1971) and Kapil Dev (1986) .
In 2011 as well, when all other Indian batters were down and out, Dravid was the lone warrior scoring 3 centuries in 4 tests and the next highest score being 84 by Amit Mishra over all the 4 tests.
Dravid, was also a part time wicket keeper during his school days and it was his abilities with the gloves that made him the “Accidental Wicket Keeper”, something he never liked doing but did it for the team. He kept wickets for a good period of 2 years including the 2003 ICC WC.
He left his number 3 position and opened when the regular Indian openers were failing miserably in the overseas conditions.
Dravid stood up to the challenge and kept doing the good work, something he did all his career, selflessly, uncomplainingly and ever so passionately.
His retirement came after a sorry Aussie tour in 2012 but the Legend never gave up. He started passing on his batting legacy to the young Indian talents. Players like Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw and Shubhman Gill who have already made their names at this young age, have all come from the Rahul Dravid's School.
Dravid was once offered the Indian team’s batting consultant’s job, but “The Great Man” chose to stick to the junior level and correct the players both technically and mentally.
His efforts gave fruits when India lifted the Under-19 world cup under Prithvi Shaw.
For his coaching stints in that WC, BCCI awarded Dravid INR 1Cr, but he shared that money in all four members of the coaching staff, again proving why he is rightly at the top of that elite gentleman group this game has ever produced.
Despite all his heroics, during his playing days and even after that, Dravid didn’t get the credit for whatever he has done and achieved all his life, may be the disadvantages of playing in “The Sachin-Era”.
One could feel his heart when crowd cheered for Sachin even when Dravid was playing at a hundred and Sachin was just in his 20's. This followed right through his career, but he never let that affect his game, remained out of the limelight and did what he was best at….Scoring Runs Over and Over Again ! And ended up being the 4th highest test run scorer ever and second highest for India (After Sachin)!
Just like he deserved a better cheer in his playing days, his graceful career deserved a better farewell too.
But again, he kept himself away from the glory and asked for a press conference not a farewell test!
He is among very few cricketers whom the world admires not only just for his batting but also for what he is as a human being ! He might’ve retired, but his legacy is here to stay and stay for long.
Inclusion in the ICC Hall Of Fame is just the beginning and it will grow like a
"Good Old Wine"!!
Few Comments from the Legends of the Game :
@Harshit Absolutely brother, tried my best to give justice to his name :)
Ahh Man! This took me back to that era where cricket was a gentleman's game and that gentleman for us was Mr. Dependent - Rahul 'The Wall' Dravid :) He had been and will always remain to be the best sporting personality cricket fraternity has ever produced. More than Sachin or any other player, we used to rely on him when our team used to be in trouble.