The Hindu : I am enjoying the responsibility: Dravid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

I am enjoying the responsibility: Dravid

By Vijay Lokapally

JOHANNESBURG MARCH 3. His intensity is infectious. As a senior member of the team, Rahul Dravid assumes a very important role in the company of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

As an integral member of the team management, he has his task cut out — to motivate the rest and also give his best. Not that others do not but Dravid stands out because he is known for his excellent reading of the game.

To be a student of a subject, you have to love it as dearly as anything else in life. For Dravid, cricket takes the top slot in the priority list. So, when he took upon himself the role of the sheet anchor of the team, he only stepped into a zone which was going to be demanding all the way.

On the need to hang in there, Dravid said, "I've been doing it for more than a year now. My task is to stay till the end and I'm enjoying the responsibility. It's a new role, new challenge and it's nice to keep adapting. It's not easy though. I'm doing a job for the team and batting at No. 5 has proved good. It's very different from No. 3 because when I come to bat the ball is often softer and the field spread out. It requires a different kind of approach but it gives me satisfaction if I do the job well.''

Reflecting on his crucial innings against England, Dravid was humble. "The openers did a great job against England. I knew anything above 230 was a fighting total. My brief was not to lose my wicket. That was the most important part. We had to set up a competitive total and that's why I just concentrated on staying till the end. We had to look at the situation. My wicket was not important. My job was to rotate the strike and ensure a partnership was built up.''

Not long ago Dravid was savaged for not being able to rotate the strike. He was often unfairly painted the villain for the slow run gathering pace in the middle-order. But he responded with a simple philosophy.

"I know there'd been criticism but one has to accept them as part and parcel of the game. I know it's not always healthy because people have different motives. But it's fine with me. I've always tried to learn from my mistakes but I've forgotten the criticism I faced early on. One has to get on with life.''

Dravid conceded that the Pakistan match was very important. "Not for any other reason. Purely cricketing. We wanted to go to the Super Six with eight points. I'm glad the players didn't get caught up in the hype. The atmosphere was great and in the end it was just a game of cricket. It's not life and death.''

Dravid earned praise from skipper Ganguly. "He's doing a fantastic job. A great job if you ask me. He's playing a key role for us actually. All efforts from behind the stumps to keep the morale up. There are too many stroke-players in the team and that's why he has been given the specific job to bat till the end. And he's doing a great job.''

Ashish Nehra spoke for the bowlers in the team. "He's a great motivator. He can read the game so well that his inputs from behind the stumps have helped me become a better bowler. He has some brilliant ideas. And what I like about him is his constant support to the bowler. He's the key man in the team.''

South African legend Greame Pollock had this to say about Dravid: "He bats lower down the order but holds the innings firm. He has incredible technique and is absolutely one of the best. He's so correct and sensible; a wonderful cricketer. I think he's the key to India's success."

Dravid too responded with warmth. "This young bunch is excellent. And they learn very fast. I've enjoyed playing with Yuvraj (Singh) and (Mohammad) Kaif. In fact, all the youngsters have done well. They have matured and improved. Yuvraj has played some critical innings and is learning. There have been some ups and downs but he has a great attitude for the big stage. Dinesh (Mongia) has been criticised but I think he's a good player too. He has a very good attitude.''

What character would Dravid like to add to the team? "I would like most of us to emulate someone like (Michael) Bevan. See how he never panics and takes the game till the very end. He plays to the needs of the team and that's what I would like to do. It's important to assess your game frequently.

It's not that I don't panic at all. Even now I panic but with time and experience you learn to control the situation.

"The important thing is to enjoy the competition and be there when it gets tough. You learn with time to make less mistakes.''

Dravid has a very simple approach to the job. "I tell myself to relax. I take it one ball at a time. I can't control what will happen but I can focus on things to come. I have to concentrate hard and also learn to relax. See, mistakes will happen but I tell myself to enjoy all the time. I must enjoy the good times and the bad times. Enjoy the success and the failures. Life becomes easy when you learn to do that.''

Does Dravid see India as a complete team? "Not yet. Probably Australia can be termed a complete one-day team and we're attempting to catch up. But it's a long way to go.''

Finally, what role did he see for himself at this stage of the World Cup? "I don't set any role for myself. It's dictated by the needs of the team and the situation that I encounter in the middle. I've to try my best and that's what I aim to do every time I go to the middle. I'm happy as long as it works.''

Even as Dravid shares his experience with his mates and motivates everyone, including Sachin Tendulkar who also rates him the "key player,'' the team looks up to this special cricketer to help the others achieve their best.

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