Rahul's love for cricket and his commitment to fitness kept him in the game past the use-by-date
Winston Churchill said ‘Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference'.
He could have been talking about Rahul Dravid who may have looked like a mild-mannered accountant, but, was in fact one of the greatest batsmen of his time because of his indomitable attitude. Only Tendulkar has made more Test runs.
Rahul appeared to me to be a reluctant hero. He preferred to be left alone to play cricket and was not bothered about the trappings and demands of success. He was, in fact, one of a kind. He has truly done India proud.
Dravid was indisputably one of the gentlemen of the game which he has adorned for over 15 years. Not for him the tantrums of the superstar, just quiet dedication to a task that he so obviously loved. Very few have ever played the game in a better spirit. The game will be poorer without his sporting ways.
He was amongst the quartet of brilliant batsmen (which included Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly) that made up one of the most vaunted middle-orders that the game has seen.
He was often the cement that held the innings together, against the odds, and is as tough as they come.
Behind the polite, gracious exterior was a formidable competitor who put a very high price on his wicket. His greatest assets were his robust technique, unwavering concentration and sheer strength of character
In fact, it was Dravid and Kumble who were largely responsible for India winning its first away series for many years when they combined to carry the team on their backs for much of the series in the West Indies in 2006.
In a series that India dominated for much of the four Tests, it was Dravid's gritty batting in tough conditions in Jamaica, which got the team over the line when the series might have been lost. Kumble's bowling had also been a contributing factor, but, it was probably his doughty partnership of 93 with Dravid in the first innings of that Test that helped clinch the series.
Dogged competitor
No team has had two more dogged, resilient and proud competitors; and, for them, the team always came first. There must be something in the water of Bangalore!
Dravid's leadership in that series, in which he captained a very young and inexperienced bowling attack, was also a contributing factor. With Dravid you were not going to get histrionics on the field. More a quiet determination and considered thought behind every move. He did his planning with the thoroughness one would expect from him.
Rahul leaned towards conservatism as captain, but, it was based on the knowledge that not many batsmen could apply themselves like he could. His record as captain has only been bettered for India by Dhoni and Ganguly.
It was Dravid's commitment to improving India's record in one-day cricket that led to the world record-breaking 17 wins in a row chasing a target. For someone who was seen as a stereotypical Test cricketer, his ODI record is remarkable; not bad for one who was press-ganged into keeping wickets for 73 matches at one period.
Rahul's love of the game and his commitment to fitness are what kept him in the game past the usual use-by date. He faced more balls than anyone else which meant that he also featured in many partnerships; none better than his two game-changing, legendary partnerships with Laxman against Australia in Kolkata in 2001 and Adelaide in 2003.
In recent times, Rahul has shown that there is more to him than someone who can bat longer than anyone else by his thoughtful and erudite delivery of the Bradman Oration in Canberra. His concern for the future of the game was evident in the courageous way he challenged administrators and players alike. At the end of the Test series, he again impressed one and all with his articulation, humility and demeanour at the Annual Dinner of the leading Australian cricket charity, The LBW Trust (of which he is one of the Patrons), which was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
I reiterate what I said a few weeks ago — he will make a brilliant ICC Chairman in 10 years time. The BCCI and the ICC must find a way of getting him involved. He is a man who commands instant respect, not just because of his stirring deeds on the cricket field but because of his sharp intellect and broad vision. He is probably the best read cricketer in the game and has genuine intellectual curiosity.
The game will go on without Rahul Dravid. Other players with talent will be found, but, the question is, will they be able to find one person with the talent, the courage, the integrity and the insatiable drive to keep improving himself as Dravid did?
To me, Rahul's career embodied the words of Mahatma Gandhi who said, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
Keywords: Greg Chappell, Rahul Dravid
More top class cricketers of Dravid's calibre and character should be encouraged to become administrators of the game. The game needs their experience and wisdom.
Undoubtedly Rahul Dravid is the best batsman India had ever produced. He is the best No:3 batsman, cricketing world had seen. (Cricket fanatics will say Bradman, but Bradman had not played against Australia). Just like DB Vengsarkar was under the shadows of Sunil Gavaskar, Dravid was under Sachin's shadow. But none can match the skill Dravid has. Poor Dravid, he should not have born in the era of Sachin.
Wishing the very best to Rahul, for Indian Test cricket will never be the same without Dravid. We miss you a lot. No one plays the pull shot so perfectly as Rahul plays. He is an artist beyond comparison. Players may come and go, may even possess extra talent than Rahul, but still cannot be like Dravid, for Dravid is the best gentleman cricketer, cricket had seen for a long long time. I still could not remember any cricketer who had not involved in any controversy, other than Rahul.
We salute you. Hope you'll continue to serve Indian and world cricket.
Thanks Greg for such a wonderful piece.Rahul Dravid is a legend.Indian test cricket will need some real effort to take it to the level that Dravid led to.But I'm afraid that we do not have such skills in current players.Such flawless technique,beauty in shots,team spirit and the dignity & respect that he cammands will be a rare package in one.Undoubtedly, he's the best batsmen India has produced & the world cricket has seen.This is an end of the era of classical batsmanship.Playing T-20 cricket cannot produce batsmen of his stature.My tributes to the greatest batsmen & ambassador of the Gentlemen's game.
A word that drips into my mind when i see this batting maestro is
"ambidextrous". With quality of overhauling himself on a continuous
juncture in battle field and reading the game well, he is also content
with great cricketing knowledge which over shadows others quite easily.
The era of bookish and orthodox cricket was over when this classy player
apprehended others to once again anticipate the theory of making perfect
bookish shots and plays. He obviously became a cognizant of Latin
crickets fanatics.
Every bit of what Greg said about Rahul is true. Apart from his technically sound cricketing skills, what is more admirable is his cucumber cool temperament, humility & never say die attitude. Time and again he proved himself to be a solid rock, hard to get displaced, standing all alone, amidst adverse situations. Hope, post retirement, he will continue contributing to cricket off-field. Wish him all the best for his future success.
To his likings, Dravid never stood up to wrong dictatorial methods by Greg and hence the eulogy from the wrong man. That was because of Dravid's nature and his upbringing.Now wait for part 2 of this eulogy when Laxman calls it a day.He too is of that ilk
Rahul Dravid's batting:Combination of art and scoring runs.
For me he is the best batsman I've ever seen.Selfless...
Well said Greg, thank you. Thanks you Rahul for being what you are and what you have been for India and many other cricket lovers ourside of India who have followed you in you playing the game. I hope God will be kind to you in your future endeavours Which you richly deserve. We all pray.
The most illuminating tribute to Rahul Dravid has come from who else Greg Chappel. The last sentence with an anology to Mahatma Gandhi could not have been more striking. It is a pity Indian cricketers could not understand Greg Chappel as much as he understood India and its history of which cricket has been a part. Wish one of our cricketers who were associated with Greg Chappel while he was the coach could come out with a positive write up on his methods and thought process to enable the vast multitude to understand him better. The Hindu deserves a standing ovation for engaging him to write such erudite and scholarly weekly columns.
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