Rahul Dravid: Role model for a 19yr old me

             My Dad used to say, Test cricket is epitome of all formats of the game. One has to prove his mettle in Test cricket to set apart himself from a bunch of good cricketers to a great cricketer. Those were the days Indian Test batting was rock solid with the Fantastic Four...

            Rahul Dravid’s comeback to ODI format and his unparalleled commitment, dedication made him a Role Model for a 19yr old me. I used to tell great stories to my friends about how Dravid used to play ODIs earlier and how he improved his technique and adjusted his style according to the merit of the game. For a 19yr old studious, these qualities seemed very fascinating. Since then I believed in commitment, hard work, and excellence. I learnt that if one has these qualities, success will automatically hop in, irrespective of whatever the field one is in.

Umpteen times I told my friends, if you want to document a cover-drive or a pull-shot in text book, take Dravid’s shots and keep it in the book. There were so many innings of Dravid, that constantly emphasized his commitment, dedication and excellence; take any from Following-on innings with Oz in Calcutta, Rawalpindi match with Pak, last day innings with WI, 190+ with NZ, to latest Eng series and many more.

            I witnessed a great cricketer’s last international performance and farewell on 6^th Jan 2004. Back then I didn’t think about today. The feeling was immense, deep and emotional. Realizing you can’t see your favourite cricketer playing international cricket again, is speechless, back then I was just 20.

Thursday 8^th Feb 2012, I happened to read that Dravid has invited media for an important announcement. Since then the feeling that was lost somewhere deep down, rushed all of a sudden and amplified exponentially. Lucky 28yr old me, who was in office, during the retirement announcement, couldn’t witness it. But media is so cruel these days; they documented each and every word of Dravid, with colourful snaps of this black and white event. The turmoil may continue for couple of days in the brain and eventually settle down, will be buried somewhere deep down, but I am sure it’s gonna come back pretty soon in a heavier dose.

             As said by another great cricketer, “There is only one Rahul Dravid”. Indian cricket team never had a player like him in the past and undoubtedly can never produce a player of his quality in future. Thanks to “The Wall” for getting better for each innings and motivating many sports-persons to common-man (like me) in many aspects of life.

            I want to rest the topic by one of my favourite dialogues (I feel it’s apt for the situation) from POTC: At World’s End.

Barbossa: The world used to be a bigger place.

Jack Sparrow: World’s still the same. There’s just less in it.