Rahul Dravid retired from all forms of International and Domestic Cricket on 9th March 2012, through a Press Conference at his home ground, in Bangalore.
His debut Test Match was a perfect example of his long career of the next 16 years in International Cricket. He debuted in the Second Test of India's Tour of England in 1996 at Lord's replacing Sanjay Manjrekar's spot, who was out due to an injury. He scored 95 but the match is always remembered for another stalwart making a century on Debut alongside Rahul - Sourav Ganguly. In the context of the game both innings held equal importance but Rahul is seldom given credit for making a top notch 95 on debut in testing conditions.
His career has also been like the game, in the context of Indian Cricket. In the 16 years of his service, he has held a very important contribution but with natural and aggressive stroke players of the like of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag, the Technique, Resilience and Defense of Dravid takes a backseat. But it was for Dravid's assuring presence and importance of his defense that the other end could showcase the talent.
His technique has been brilliant and the timing equally perfect. He has never bothered to play for the galleries or for the flashlights but always for the team. He could play for the galleries which he showed at the fag end of his career in the Indian Premier League but that was not what we like watching a Rahul Dravid Innings. His dedication towards the game and country is exemplary.
A man of very few words, he always did let his bat to do the most of the talking. He has never been involved in any kind of controversies. Even at the highpoint of the Chappell Ganguly fight, he maintained a dignified silence being the captain of the team. It didn't make him a passive man on the cricket field. In the words of Matthew Hayden, if you want to see Rahul Dravid's aggression, look into his eyes. Those unflinching eyes never wanted to dictate the bowler but never wanted to be dictated as well. It always viewed the importance of his wicket in the context of the game.
Many of his critics, were not happy with him playing the limited over format as he used to eat up many balls compared to the runs he scored. His role in the team has always been of soaking all the pressure and protect his end with steadiness and steward towards playing the full quota of the allotted overs of the match. In 2003 World Cup at South Africa, India could never have fielded an extra batting option had Dravid not agreed to keep wickets which was incidentally not in his KRA.
Rahul Dravid has batted at nearly all positions possible for a batsman to bat, he has also kept wicket, the best man at short leg in the initial part of the career and the best person at slip holding the record for highest test catches and if all this is not enough he also has some wickets to his name.
We will miss Rahul because we can never watch him again construct a test innings like he used to. No highlights package can cover the straight bat defense, the meticulous ducks and enduring and taming the most torrid bowling spells.
His career coincided the golden era of Indian Batting and hence Rahul Dravid always remained in the shadows. His presence in the Indian team was like Hygiene in a person's personality, we never acknowledge its presence but in case of its absence it looks really tardy.
My personal experience of watching Rahul Dravid in a stadium was from the Final Test of West Indies touring India in 2011 in Wankhede in Bombay. The match best remembered for Sachin missing his 100th 100 by a mere 6 runs but it was also a moment of Dravid who completed 1000 runs in a calendar year at an age of 39 years, a testimony to his approach and fitness.
Its the end of the most sober era of the Indian Cricket. Rahul Dravid hangs his Massive Boots which will be a test for the Incumbent youngsters to fill in so India is not hurt.
His debut Test Match was a perfect example of his long career of the next 16 years in International Cricket. He debuted in the Second Test of India's Tour of England in 1996 at Lord's replacing Sanjay Manjrekar's spot, who was out due to an injury. He scored 95 but the match is always remembered for another stalwart making a century on Debut alongside Rahul - Sourav Ganguly. In the context of the game both innings held equal importance but Rahul is seldom given credit for making a top notch 95 on debut in testing conditions.
His career has also been like the game, in the context of Indian Cricket. In the 16 years of his service, he has held a very important contribution but with natural and aggressive stroke players of the like of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag, the Technique, Resilience and Defense of Dravid takes a backseat. But it was for Dravid's assuring presence and importance of his defense that the other end could showcase the talent.
His technique has been brilliant and the timing equally perfect. He has never bothered to play for the galleries or for the flashlights but always for the team. He could play for the galleries which he showed at the fag end of his career in the Indian Premier League but that was not what we like watching a Rahul Dravid Innings. His dedication towards the game and country is exemplary.
A man of very few words, he always did let his bat to do the most of the talking. He has never been involved in any kind of controversies. Even at the highpoint of the Chappell Ganguly fight, he maintained a dignified silence being the captain of the team. It didn't make him a passive man on the cricket field. In the words of Matthew Hayden, if you want to see Rahul Dravid's aggression, look into his eyes. Those unflinching eyes never wanted to dictate the bowler but never wanted to be dictated as well. It always viewed the importance of his wicket in the context of the game.
Many of his critics, were not happy with him playing the limited over format as he used to eat up many balls compared to the runs he scored. His role in the team has always been of soaking all the pressure and protect his end with steadiness and steward towards playing the full quota of the allotted overs of the match. In 2003 World Cup at South Africa, India could never have fielded an extra batting option had Dravid not agreed to keep wickets which was incidentally not in his KRA.
Rahul Dravid has batted at nearly all positions possible for a batsman to bat, he has also kept wicket, the best man at short leg in the initial part of the career and the best person at slip holding the record for highest test catches and if all this is not enough he also has some wickets to his name.
We will miss Rahul because we can never watch him again construct a test innings like he used to. No highlights package can cover the straight bat defense, the meticulous ducks and enduring and taming the most torrid bowling spells.
His career coincided the golden era of Indian Batting and hence Rahul Dravid always remained in the shadows. His presence in the Indian team was like Hygiene in a person's personality, we never acknowledge its presence but in case of its absence it looks really tardy.
My personal experience of watching Rahul Dravid in a stadium was from the Final Test of West Indies touring India in 2011 in Wankhede in Bombay. The match best remembered for Sachin missing his 100th 100 by a mere 6 runs but it was also a moment of Dravid who completed 1000 runs in a calendar year at an age of 39 years, a testimony to his approach and fitness.
Its the end of the most sober era of the Indian Cricket. Rahul Dravid hangs his Massive Boots which will be a test for the Incumbent youngsters to fill in so India is not hurt.
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