This post is dedicated to the man who inspires me every time I think of him, Rahul Sharad Dravid. I heard this name eleven years back when every person at my home were mocking at him for his slow strike rate in a One Day International. I was unaware of cricket that time and so I joined them. Thanks to Britannia biscuits. It was during the 2003 World Cup, they started giving "Book Cricket" books. I gathered less points from the wrappers and I was given "RAHUL THE WALL" book. Till then I just knew there existed one cricketer named Rahul Dravid in the Indian team. I was impressed the way he was portayed in that book. You know people throw stones only at trees with good fruits. So I started following him to know why he was criticised. Everyone talked about Sachin and Ganguly, but then there was another man there who was not spoken about. It happened then. He was awarded ICC Cricketer of the year 2004. It was just the spark that made me call myself a Dravid fan.
Dravid, is a perfectionist. Fans love few cricketers unconditionally, evident from the way Sachin is worshipped. But this man was different. We like him for what he is. People might think I have interchanged roles here in this comparison. Most people compare Sachin Tendulkar to Rajnikanth, but I don't know how many have seen the way I see the two cricketers. When Dravid entered International arena, Sachin was at the peak. Comparable to Kamalhasan's status when Rajnikanth entered cinema. Sachin lived cricket. But still Dravid was my first "THALAIVAR". I don't by any means underestimate Sachin here. Compete with the best so that you can give your best. That was how Dravid carried his career and so I prefer comparing him with the best. Technicians say Dravid is one of Best Test batsman the world has ever seen. Probably the best slip fielder India ever had. But I liked him for different reasons.
When everyone said he was unfit for shorter version, he disproved. When people misinterpreted arrogance to aggression, he stayed calm. He was the epitome of sportsmanship. When he made a mistake, he confessed. When shouting and sledging were the only ways the world knew to show anger, he replied with silence. I started longing to see him play. Many times I prayed that the openers get out soon so that I get to see Dravid play. Everytime the wall bends behind the batsman to pick the catch, I felt happy. The whole world felt happy for batsmen scoring hundreds. I was celebrating Dravid's 200th delivery faced and his stay at the crease for hours together. When commentator says, "He plays every shot from the book", my mind voice said, "Authors know what their book has". Each drop of sweat that dripped off from his chin made me happier.
Dravid might not have been a great captain but he played as a role model. When once I said "I am a Dravid fan", my teacher told me there is no pride calling myself a fan if I have not learnt anything good from him. "Work hard. If you fail, work harder. Stay focused. Never give up. Be true. Stay gentle. Be responsible. Care for people around you. Teach for whom you can and learn from all. If people say you can't do a thing, they fear you will do it." At-least a minimum of these lessons I learnt from the man. He stood out for me. He taught me so many things which I never would have imagined learning from a sportsperson. I am his Ekalaiva.
On behalf of every Dravid fan I say this, "He might not have been the best in the business. He did whatever he could. He stands and will stand as the living role model for all of us. Being a fan for such a man brings pride. We always will keep learning from him. Though he has taken leave from his profession, he will always carry his bat through in all our hearts as the "NOT-OUT" batsman who valued his wicket more than anything. We thank god for creating us in this era. Though people might not like him that much as a cricketer, every human likes this fellow human being. Waiting, longing, yearning to meet this gentleman atleast once. Thank you Rahul Dravid _/\_ We salute you! You didn't win trophies, you won our hearts!!!"
Dravid, is a perfectionist. Fans love few cricketers unconditionally, evident from the way Sachin is worshipped. But this man was different. We like him for what he is. People might think I have interchanged roles here in this comparison. Most people compare Sachin Tendulkar to Rajnikanth, but I don't know how many have seen the way I see the two cricketers. When Dravid entered International arena, Sachin was at the peak. Comparable to Kamalhasan's status when Rajnikanth entered cinema. Sachin lived cricket. But still Dravid was my first "THALAIVAR". I don't by any means underestimate Sachin here. Compete with the best so that you can give your best. That was how Dravid carried his career and so I prefer comparing him with the best. Technicians say Dravid is one of Best Test batsman the world has ever seen. Probably the best slip fielder India ever had. But I liked him for different reasons.
When everyone said he was unfit for shorter version, he disproved. When people misinterpreted arrogance to aggression, he stayed calm. He was the epitome of sportsmanship. When he made a mistake, he confessed. When shouting and sledging were the only ways the world knew to show anger, he replied with silence. I started longing to see him play. Many times I prayed that the openers get out soon so that I get to see Dravid play. Everytime the wall bends behind the batsman to pick the catch, I felt happy. The whole world felt happy for batsmen scoring hundreds. I was celebrating Dravid's 200th delivery faced and his stay at the crease for hours together. When commentator says, "He plays every shot from the book", my mind voice said, "Authors know what their book has". Each drop of sweat that dripped off from his chin made me happier.
Dravid might not have been a great captain but he played as a role model. When once I said "I am a Dravid fan", my teacher told me there is no pride calling myself a fan if I have not learnt anything good from him. "Work hard. If you fail, work harder. Stay focused. Never give up. Be true. Stay gentle. Be responsible. Care for people around you. Teach for whom you can and learn from all. If people say you can't do a thing, they fear you will do it." At-least a minimum of these lessons I learnt from the man. He stood out for me. He taught me so many things which I never would have imagined learning from a sportsperson. I am his Ekalaiva.
On behalf of every Dravid fan I say this, "He might not have been the best in the business. He did whatever he could. He stands and will stand as the living role model for all of us. Being a fan for such a man brings pride. We always will keep learning from him. Though he has taken leave from his profession, he will always carry his bat through in all our hearts as the "NOT-OUT" batsman who valued his wicket more than anything. We thank god for creating us in this era. Though people might not like him that much as a cricketer, every human likes this fellow human being. Waiting, longing, yearning to meet this gentleman atleast once. Thank you Rahul Dravid _/\_ We salute you! You didn't win trophies, you won our hearts!!!"
