Rahul Dravid

Mention Rahul Dravid and the words “The Wall” come instinctively to your mind. Rahul Dravid is no ordinary wall though. Every wall must come down with time but the wall the Indian captain personifies is a wall not made of bricks and mortar but steely determination and resolve, desire and courage, and boundless human spirit. This is a wall that is moving from strength to strength, growing in stature and magnificence, its foundations getting tougher and going deeper with each passing day as it lends invaluable support to a nation and its billion hopes. Rahul Dravid does not signify the wall that just stands there and faces, holding up one end (as his critics initially believed) but one which strikes back, harder for every blow you inflict on it, each punch hurting more than the other. He is the wall of a fort, not only resisting but also attacking, the reason behind the glory and pride of the empire, the various battles won and conquests made.

Rahul Dravid brings an old-world charm to the modern day game. Arguably, one of the most technically correct batsman the game has ever seen, he has beautifully evolved his game with innovations and improvisations for the shorter form of the game too. Once labeled as too slow and boring for One-day cricket, he was the highest scorer in the 1999 world cup, and is now not only an indelible part of the ODI team but also its captain. The sheet anchor of the team in both forms of the game, hardly anyone will deny that he is the most prized scalp for oppositions both in India and abroad.

Rahul Dravid is a sight to savor on a cricket ground, playing the game the way it was meant to be played. A gentleman both on and off the field watching Dravid bat is every cricket connoisseur’s delight. A blend of technical proficiency and stylish strokes, innovation and improvisation, resolve and consistency, Dravid is a rare cricketer in a time of hard hitters and swash, bang and wallop batsmen.

From his classy test debut at Lords’, Dravid has not looked back, teaching youngsters the world over how to play quality fast bowling, defending well, the rewards of spending time on the crease and how to leave the ball. One of the best leavers of the game, Dravid has in a way revived the art of leaving the cricket ball. Dravid’s leaving of the cricket ball is a sight to behold, ducking or swaying to leave a lethal delivery that is not heading for the stumps. His exquisite cover drives are worth every penny you pay to get in the ground and the sound of the ball hitting the meat of the blade is the icing on the cake. It is for this very reason that he occupies the most pivotal position in the Indian batting line-up, averaging around 60 at the No. 3 spot. Remarkably for an Indian batsman, he averages more overseas (more than 60) than at home. His awe-inspiring performances, both in India and abroad have helped India win and save a number of matches. It is interesting to note that in the 21 test matches India has won under Ganguly’s leadership, Dravid has played a part in each of those wins, scoring at an aggregate of a staggering 102.84 runs every innings (a record) with 9 centuries – three of them double-hundreds- and ten fifties in 32 innings. Dravid probably made the transition from a great player to one of the greatest ever when he made 180 to supplement VVS Laxman’s classic effort of 281 against Australia . From then on, Dravid has been without a doubt India ’s most valuable player winning them tests almost single-handedly at Headingly, Adelaide , Kandy and Rawalpindi . On the back of his epic 270, as his average crept past Tendulkar- it came as no surprise.

Dravid has also been an integral part of India ’s one-day team since the 1999 world cup, playing the role of the sheet anchor and finisher in most of India ’s triumphs. His taking up the role of the wicket-keeper to strengthen the side helped India reach the finals of the 2003 World Cup. This keen student of the game now leads the side in the form of the game the critics felt he was not meant for. That probably sums up the character of Dravid, who places the game before himself, his country before personal glory. There hardly has been a captain who deserves to win the world cup more than him. By winning the 2007 World Cup, he’ll just get what he truly deserves.