Rahul Dravid

Success begins with a fellow’s will:

Anonymous.

Here is the most august player, Rahul “The Wall” Dravid from the realm of cricketing world. The man, who is, the creator of his own destiny, though, not blessed with the inborn talent of the likes of Tendulkers and Laras, but knows the definition of success and is fastidious in implementing the very essence of it.

He hails from Karnataka, one of the cricket frenzy states of south India. He started playing cricket since his primitive years, to be more precise, at the age of 12. His father and uncle used to play cricket, perhaps this has spooked in him the interest of playing cricket. He started playing cricket in streets, during his school days, as all Indians do. He performed really well in junior tournaments to get a nod from selectors to play in the state under-15, under-17 and under-19. At one point of time he captained his state under-19 team.

He made his Ranji Trophy debut against Maharashtra with a classy 82 and went on to score his maiden century in the very next game against Bengal. The man with his simplicity and innocent looks has always destined to make it big in life. Since his early days of cricket, he was known for his stylish and sound technique of batting display. The will to occupy the crease blended with immense concentration, has been his key to the success. This eventually paved his way into the Indian team. He made his presence felt by scoring a gritty and stylish 95 runs at Lords in 1996 against England, on debut. As Navjoth Sidhu says, “writing is on the wall”, this guy will remain for a long time to come and now he’s there with all-time cricket greats and is already a legend. There’s no better player than him in the history of Test-Cricket barring Sir Don Bradman, who can bat at number three.

He already averages nearly 60 and still has about four good years to go. More than half of his 17 test centuries have come abroad, which implies his adaptability with subject to the nature of the country and its pitches, very unconventional for an Indian batsman. He believes in grinding the opposition and dispatches the good and bad balls, with sheer arrogance, to the fence. He’s every bowler’s nightmare, because he hardly gives any chances. Hence, the name “The Wall”. He makes the bowler earn his wicket, which signifies the price and value he places on his wicket. Once, the great fast bowler, Waqar Younis, said in his interview that, he is more comfortable in bowling to Tendulker than Rahul because the former gives more chances than the latter. Whenever he’s at the batting crease, provides the privilege of relaxation to the guys in the dressing room. He’s every photographer’s treat with his style and ability to play all the shots in a book with perfection.

He was once out of the one-day team because of his incapability to pierce the gaps and scoring runs at will. But he made his point clear, “when going gets tough, tough gets going” and on his re-entry into the one-day Indian team during the 1998-1999 world cup in England, Rahul was the highest run getter with 2 centuries and 3 half centuries including the plucky innings of 145 against Srilanka in Taunton, England. He won a best Wisden cricketer of the year for his performance in 1999. Whereas in this world cup, playing at number five, he has emerged as the good finisher of the game, remember the win against Pakistan, where Dravid has seen India through. He averages nearly 40 in one-day cricket with 8 centuries and 51 fifties. He’s more of a team man, who has sacrificed so much for the team that for a while has batted at number six position for India, in Tests, so that Laxman can play at number three. Also keeps wickets in one-day Internationals, thereby providing with an opportunity for the seventh batsman in the team. He has been an unsung hero for a long time. But, he was never dejected because he knows the art of bouncing back. Such is his steadfastness to succeed. Hence proved the fact that one-day cricket is no more a dark conundrum for him.

He has won games for India in both the versions of the game. He has saved test matches in Port Elizabeth, Trent Bridge and Georgetown. Won test matches in Headingley, Kandy, Rawalpindi, and Adelaide also was involved in the mammoth partnership with Laxman in 2001 at Eden Gardens which turned the tide for India. I remember of a compliment passed by Steve Waugh to Rahul, when he won a test match for India by hitting a double century and finishing the game with 70 odd runs by hitting a boundary. In that game, Steve Waugh walked all the way to the boundary to grab the ball and then went straight to Rahul and said “of course I will keep this ball”. Such is his charm that has won him accolades and a huge fan following. Because of his innocent and boyish looks, has a huge female fan following too and broke millions of hearts on 4th May 2003 by marrying Dr.Vijetha Pendharker. He was considered to be the country’s most eligible bachelor, until this day. In the span of 15 Tests has scored 4 double centuries, may be Dravid is enjoying the Lady luck. One thing is for sure, that he is at the pinnacle of his success and no one can dare to condone the fact. Rahul “The wall” Dravid is one of the legends in reckoning.