Rahul Dravid spoke to the media at length with big pauses in between and true to the man, those interruptions were devoted to batting in the nets. Nothing has changed for him though there is the small matter of bowing out of One Day Internationals here on Friday.
Excerpts from Dravid's press conference
On emotions running high?: “Not really. It does not feel like I am finishing since I would be playing Tests.
Obviously I would not be playing one-day cricket. It is a nice time to reflect back on a pretty pleasing one-day career.
“I had to work harder in one-day cricket than in Tests. It has given me a lot satisfaction that I have been able to achieve so much. There is a Test series against West Indies and then the tour of Australia. So after a few days off it would be back to the nets and fitness. So there is no change.”
Discipline: “If you want to play international sport for a long period, there are certain sacrifices that you need to make. Growing up you didn't do certain things that you normally do in college.
I was busy playing cricket and I enjoyed that. Obviously you got be careful as you get older and ensure your fitness.
“I love being a cricketer and l like playing for my country.
I have done a lot of different things for India in one-day cricket — batting in different positions, keeping wickets and all that helped me.”
Highs and lows in ODIs: “Reaching the 2003 World Cup final was a high and also watching India win the World Cup this year was satisfying.
“As a young kid in 1983, watching Kapil Dev lift the World Cup was a huge inspiration.
“Towards the end of my career watching another Indian team do it and being part of the journey in some ways, was satisfying. The big disappointment was the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.”
