Most of my generation people are looking for reasons to rejuvenate their interest in the religion called Cricket. I am calling it my generation of people because we are the Sachin Tendulkar generation, the Dada generation, the Rahul Dravid generation. Those name were put in that order for a reason, cuz that's how the order has always been.
I want to urge all the cricket fans one thing, let's not have any more Rahul Dravids. You would think I am not a big Dravid fan, but trust me; I am.
So why such a weird request, you ask? Here's why.
It was 1996, at Lord's; match best remembered for Sourav Ganguly’s century on debut and Dravid’s decision to ‘walk’ after he got the faintest of touches to a Chris Lewis delivery at a score of 95. Batting at number seven, just ahead of Anil Kumble, Dravid thus exhibited in his first match the qualities that would be reinforced through a 16-year career. Grace under pressure, moral certainty and the ability to raise his game when the going got tough. But, it was still the match in which Sourav Ganguly made his debut.
When Rahul Dravid made 180 in a Test match, he was upstaged by a man who made 281 (VVS Laxman). It was remembered as the match which established Laxman as the backbone of Indian middle order. Rahul Dravid, he just supported the maestro.
When he made his then highest score of 145 in a one-day international, Sourav Ganguly made 183 in the same innings. It was but obvious that the highest score ever made by any Indian player would overshadow the supporting character's century.
When Dravid gave it one more go and topped that by making 153 against New Zealand, Tendulkar scored 186. And when the God scores the highest in Indian history, the tributes would naturally go to him.
So, Dravid tried again. While he was going through an England tour as the only Indian batsman who mattered, the focus was not so much on Dravid’s three centuries as on the non-century from Tendulkar.
He has been one of the most successful captains in test for India, but is remembered for that one decision of calling back Sachin in before his double ton.
He kept wickets for India in the dry period between Mongia and Dhoni, but he is remembered as stop gap arrangement to squeeze a 7th batsman.
He has had maximum catches in slip but will never be compared to the likes of Raina, Yuvraj or even Mohammad Kaif for that matter on the field.
And now when I witnessed yesterday's match; where the world appreciated Virat Kohli; I just thought, not again.
Virat was magical, awesome, brilliant, stunning. But there was a Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma who were marvellous too. Let's not forget them. Let's not leave them behind.
Let's not treat them like Dravid.
No more Dravids, please.
I want to urge all the cricket fans one thing, let's not have any more Rahul Dravids. You would think I am not a big Dravid fan, but trust me; I am.
So why such a weird request, you ask? Here's why.
It was 1996, at Lord's; match best remembered for Sourav Ganguly’s century on debut and Dravid’s decision to ‘walk’ after he got the faintest of touches to a Chris Lewis delivery at a score of 95. Batting at number seven, just ahead of Anil Kumble, Dravid thus exhibited in his first match the qualities that would be reinforced through a 16-year career. Grace under pressure, moral certainty and the ability to raise his game when the going got tough. But, it was still the match in which Sourav Ganguly made his debut.
When Rahul Dravid made 180 in a Test match, he was upstaged by a man who made 281 (VVS Laxman). It was remembered as the match which established Laxman as the backbone of Indian middle order. Rahul Dravid, he just supported the maestro.
When he made his then highest score of 145 in a one-day international, Sourav Ganguly made 183 in the same innings. It was but obvious that the highest score ever made by any Indian player would overshadow the supporting character's century.
When Dravid gave it one more go and topped that by making 153 against New Zealand, Tendulkar scored 186. And when the God scores the highest in Indian history, the tributes would naturally go to him.
So, Dravid tried again. While he was going through an England tour as the only Indian batsman who mattered, the focus was not so much on Dravid’s three centuries as on the non-century from Tendulkar.
He has been one of the most successful captains in test for India, but is remembered for that one decision of calling back Sachin in before his double ton.
He kept wickets for India in the dry period between Mongia and Dhoni, but he is remembered as stop gap arrangement to squeeze a 7th batsman.
He has had maximum catches in slip but will never be compared to the likes of Raina, Yuvraj or even Mohammad Kaif for that matter on the field.
And now when I witnessed yesterday's match; where the world appreciated Virat Kohli; I just thought, not again.
Virat was magical, awesome, brilliant, stunning. But there was a Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma who were marvellous too. Let's not forget them. Let's not leave them behind.
Let's not treat them like Dravid.
No more Dravids, please.
Ahaa! No wonder Surya asked me to check this out. Being a Dravid one, I completely concur with your assessment, Priyank - indeed, no more Dravids please.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Contrary to your opinion, Surya thinks this write up is too sympathetic. I suppose she thinks Dravid has got the due credit for his contribution.
DeleteWell, I suppose she is one of those who would not care either way. Dravid himself has often said that he has got enough and more plaudits for his performance. It was after listening to the man's own affirmations that I stopped "lobbying" (in my cricket circle which constitutes about 3.5 people) for more support for him.
DeleteJust curious to know who the 0.5 is. :P
DeleteBut I agree that I should rather consider the above as opinion and not a statement.
Being a Sachin fan or rather fanatic it never occured to me, i never noticed Rahuls heroics.But I guess its largely media who plays these favorites rather than us. We see what we are shown, and never probe. But I think this post Sachin era is going to be different, media can say whatever but people have their favorites right, so when you read blogs, comments on the last match you just don't see one name but a set of them like yuvi, rohit, virat, shikhar and ofcourse dhoni...
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that people have their favourites. And the favouritism overshadows the performance. That's the precise point I am trying to highlight here Anjali
ReplyDeleteYour plea has got me harking back to two recent articles in the ToI - on Padmakar Shivalkar and Sitanshu Kotak. If Dravid's name and his (unselfish) deeds are not known as much (as they deserve), then what can we say of these and various other unsung heroes of the cricketing world. Sheer talent wasted through sheer politicking. The fans of the so-called God of cricket conveniently forget the really 'all-round' performance of Dravid. I have a "theory" here - had his folks chosen to relocate to Mumbai instead of B'luru, the country may have accorded this Maharashtrian Deshastha Brahmin more accolades. What say?
ReplyDelete