- Form is temporary : Class is permanent -
Rahul Sharad Dravid, the epitome of the word consistent, embodiment of humbleness and truly a team man personified.
“Talent is cheaper than table salt” – Stephen King. Greatness of a player shouldn’t be measured only by the simple ratio: talent to performance. The one who nurtures his talent to the next level by using it effectively can only be the true champ and can win the hearts of millions.
Cricket is a team game and it will sound absurd if one judges a batsman by the numbers of runs he scores and a bowler by the number of wickets he takes. Indeed it is the true manner in which a player responds to the situation and takes his team securely to a winning position – this indicates the true greatness of a player. For instance the prestigious Most Valuable Player or MVP award in NBA goes to the one who was the influential factor in changing his team’s fortunes rather than to the one who could score more points by the end of the season. It is the same with the cricketers as well. Compounding to the parameter of the situation of the game Dravid has always been at his best and delivered at times where the rest of the batsmen failed collectively especially in alien conditions. His stride to the middle always brings out the serenity in the dressing room and lights up the hopes of billions of fans as well. One can be re-assured that whatever the situation India is in, he will give his 100% out there on the field. In the case of Dravid, it has been once again proved that batting is the art of building partnerships rather than agglomerating runs. In a career spanning of 13 years, Dravid has been involved in 75 century partnerships with 18 different partners which is a world record. “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going” This saying doesn’t suit any other Indian cricketer as much as it suits for Dravid. Though he is not a naturally gifted player like Ganguly or Sachin, all of his shots ranging from the classical cover drive to the typical square cut were the result of his sheer hard work and practice in the nets by which he groomed himself into a professional cricketer.
One more important thing which should be mentioned of Dravid is his record streak of continuous 94 test matches from his debut which stands as a testimony to the fitness levels he has maintained over time. Dravid also puts up his best foot first for the melioration of Team India; whether it was constraining himself with the role of wicketkeeper or batting in any position from 1 to 7. Be it Kolkata, Delhi, Headingly, Leeds, Adelaide, Rawalpindi, Port-of-Spain, Christchurch... Dravid had always been instrumental in Team India’s victories and will continue to.
Dravid has always been the man who has seen the team through the turbulent time with aplomb. The three Ds Dedication, Determination and Discipline were synonymous for Dravid’s illustrious career. What can we learn from a gifted/talented cricketer? Atmost we can enjoy his master strokes all over the ground and begin applauding him. But for the case of Dravid, I can proudly say that he is my idol for the staunchness and the commitment he has shown throughout his career.
Now I would like to end with the saying, “Patience, Persistence and Practice leads to PERFECTION” which was profusely justified in the case of the legend Rahul Dravid.
