by Hitesh Punjabi
Scoring more than 10000 runs both in One-day internationals and Test Cricket arena is a feat that very few people have been managed to achieve and Rahul Dravid who started his cricketing career in 1996 has done it in no time. After all that’s what a champion is all about. A strong technique with a determined attitude made sure that he didn’t play for India only in the Test Matches but One dayers as well.
After the disastrous performances in the recent Test matches, Dravid’s ton in the Mohali Test Match against the England Team made sure that he continues to stay as the backbone of the Indian Cricket Team. This sportsman has once again wiped off all the recent criticisms that he had by playing an innings that would surely have provided immense satisfaction to him and his fans.
Rahul Dravid’s nickname of “The Wall” is highly justified in that he has always there been for Indian Team, first as an amazingly determined batsman, then as a wicket-keeper batsman and also as a Captain experiencing all the aspects of the game that a player can ever savor! His shot-selection, consistency speaks for him and who can forget his memorable innings of 180 runs against Australia in 2001 where along with VVS Laxman, he led India to one of the most historical test victories that Indian Team has ever witnessed.
There was more to come from his bat as Dravid continued his magical display by becoming the highest run scorer in the year 1999 World Cup with a great figure of 461 runs. He did that by serving as a wicket – keeper batsman for Team India which meant a huge benefit to the team as they can accommodate an extra batsman.
His recent patch of bad form may very well have ended his premature Cricketing career but his composed attitude with immense positivity that he got from his coach Paddy Upton assured that he can still play big knocks for India and lead them to historical wins as he has been doing for the past twelve years. And then this is what you can expect from the Conscientious sportsman like him after scoring a magnificent ton yesterday , “ I am grateful to all of those who backed me when I was struggling. Selectors, former players, my teammates, everybody. They all gave me wonderful support.”
With averaging more than 55 in Test Cricket and nearly 40 in One dayers, “The Wall” will surely get higher and higher as he gets more runs and who knows it might just be a matter of time before the earlier consistent Dravid makes a comeback.
