A tribute to Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from Test cricket today. One of India’s finest cricketers, a legend in his own right- Dravid bows out on his own terms. After having scored more than 10,000 runs in both Test and One Day cricket, his greatness cannot be doubted. He averages almost 55 away from the sub-continent, a record any Indian would be proud of.

I have grown up watching Dravid play. His technique, his calm presence at the crease and his modesty are all something I admire. He played the game hard, with controlled aggression and proved that the modern cricketer can still be a gentleman- something that the sport lacks now.

Dravid was a team player in every sense of the term. As Harsha Bhogle said, he was India’s ‘yes’ man. He never said no when the team required his services. When he was asked to keep wickets, he accepted; when he was asked to open the batting, he accepted; and when he was asked to bat at number 6 in the one day format, he accepted. He challenged himself always, all the time trying to improve as a player. He adapted his technique to suit different conditions and always put the team’s interests first. If he was required to bat out a few sessions to help save a Test match, he would do so, and if he was required to score quickly to allow a quick declaration, he would do so- regardless of whether he was on 7 or 97! As captain too, he brought a fresh perspective to the side. In Pakistan, when Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 194, he (Dravid) declared because he believed that his bowlers required a certain amount of time to bowl the opposition out.

In a career that lasted 16 years, this was the only ‘controversy’ that Dravid found himself in. The fact that he was brave enough to make the declaration shows how much of a team man he was.

India’s success overseas coincided with Dravid’s rise as a run machine overseas. 21 of his Test centuries were scored overseas. He mastered the seaming and swinging conditions of England and New Zealand and also the pace and bounce of Australia and South Africa. His record speaks for itself.

Rahul Dravid is often spoken of as the ultimate Test batsman- rock solid in defence, superb temperament and the ability to concentrate for long periods of time. He pulled India out of many sticky situations. One innings I remember is his 148 at Leeds- he fought the seaming conditions on the first day and came out on top, setting a platform for an eventual Test win. His 233 in Adelaide was another remarkable innings, but better than that was his knock in the second innings- he stayed there till the very end, guiding India home to a historical win overseas.

Dravid’s ability to ‘finish’ off games came to the forefront when he was pushed down the order to number 6 in the One Day format. Kaif and Yuvraj played around him and learnt the tricks of the trade. Dravid’s ability to score quickly was highly underestimated. Yes, in the early part of his career he was far too defensive, but he learnt the art of scoring quickly and adjusted his technique accordingly. He was a more than useful One Day player- averaging almost 40 (having scored more than 10,000 runs).

No one can doubt Dravid’s ability as a cricketer. He was never the most naturally gifted player, but he worked hard, honed his skills and willed himself into one of India’s best. Dravid’s success is evidence of what one can do if you truly want something and are willing to work for it. He is a sporting role model for his achievements on the field and the way he carried himself off it. His presence in the Indian team will be truly missed, but he leaves with his head held high and retires undoubtedly as India’s GREATEST ‘Number 3’.