Beyond The Wall
Finally
the wall has moved forward, it will no longer block the three sticks and two
locking bells placed on it. The three sticks the Wall protected for so many
years, not just sticks but actually pride of a nation and a difference between
fight and meek surrender. Above all the protector has decorum, sophistication and
exceptional commitment to the game and admiration, respect for other players.
The wall has finally packed up in his usual pleasant style, simple and elegant
just like his cover drive, executed to supreme perfection, delightful to watch.
A phone call to all the players he played with and announcement the next day. The
breaking news was already flashing, the first comment came from the master, pouring
huge praise on him, admitting proudly that nobody can be like Rahul Dravid, and
that he shared some greatest moments of his career with him.
A perfectionist and soft spoken, well mannered and polished, he was more
of an elite in a game that was once citadel of gentlemen. In the stories of
misconduct and arrogance on the field, his silent presence was always a
stubborn rejoinder to attitudes devoid of sporting spirit. As a cricket lover I
followed his career that saw ups and downs and so also my relationship with his
game. It was a strange association that fluctuated in the initial phase but as
I matured it consolidated. His debut in the swinging English environment where
he just missed maiden century was certainly assuring but maiden century by
Saurav stole the thunder. Nevertheless his solid defense was picked by critics.
He looked promising but then cricket is the game of glorious uncertainties,
many players show us the optimism but lose ground in the glamour and glitter or
simply falter in tougher situations finding a smooth way into oblivion.
As I look back, it’s really amazing to explore my attachment to him as a
game lover. His career and my joining teaching field ran parallel. I joined the
profession in 1992 and his test career started in 1996. As anybody would in the
beginning I was somewhat immature, brash and to an extent low profile in
approach. With the experience you mature and grow in profession. His debut was
almost after four years of my start. I do remember feeling for the missed
century of Rahul though Saurav glittered. My bent for the sympathy for those
who miss inspite of great effort, pushed my heart in favour of Rahul. His
voluminous records speaks volumes about him, his sound technique, strong
defense, devotion and commitment to the game and pride of playing for the country
has been praised by many but for me he was more than what his record books
tell.
He belonged to an upper middle class family
having Maharashtrian origin, a mannerism subtly reflected in his appearance. Considering
the background at home and the importance given to education a career in
cricket is undoubtedly a distant dream. That his parents allowed the talent in
him to blossom deserves accolades for them but more importantly the faith they
showed and the support they gave for him to succeed must be imagined and
appreciated, he being an intensely private person never spoke too much about
it. One has to understand that allowing and backing up a career in cricket in
India is a risk for the success is extremely elusive though glamour is irresistible.
The middle class always seeks a secure future but they opted for uncertain road
map must be owing to the confidence they posed in Rahul’s talents. The
appreciation to them is overdue for the cultural and moral values they induced
in him.
The circumstances in which he took guard in
test cricket were challenging for variety of reasons. He was searching for the
opportunity in place of Sanjay Manjrekar, the batman regarded as the one with the
best technique and temperament for test cricket, and he had the same but
unproven strengths. Sachin was already playing and along with him was Ganguly
with his king-size attitude. Manjrekar with great technique, Sachin with
all the ingredients of a player of generation and Saurav with gifted timing, calm,
composed and with sound technique Rahul had a challenge which he accepted and made
his presence felt in the debut.
He sealed his place in the test cricket at no.3 position. He was always
the first hope and last also, in protecting three sticks at one end whenever we
played on bouncy tracks in Australia, on the seaming pitches in South Africa and
in swinging environment of Englind but in one day cricket he was never regarded
as best fit rather was inducted as if it was inevitable. How funny it is that a
batsman who has scored more than 10000 runs in one day format was never
respected as one of the best one day player. I think here we find the greatness of
Rahul. Imagine a career in test cricket
which was under the shadow of the maestro whose overpowering batting gave him
God’s status and in one day fromat along with Sachin it was Ganguly who was dominating
through his aggressive batting, attitude with arrogant overtones and a successful
but belligerent captaincy. His batting style was considered best for the test
but was always wanted in one day to protect one end, and never given credit for
it.
In his performance we tend to forget the
psychological odds he has to fight against emanating from the indifference of
fans, hard work he has to put and poor share in the appreciation. In such
environment keeping high morale and maintaining highest level of concentration
is not easy and worse it is never thought about since the fans are only
interested in wins not on the mental conditioning needed for performing at such
level. For us either we win or lose but for players like Rahul it is much more than
that. Exploring his mind map makes me wonder how he managed all this. What
pushed him to perform? Those who push themselves in tough psychological
situations tend to be aggressive in mind as well as on field but he seemed to
be mentally tough, well conditioned, highly motivated but calm and composed at
the same time. How is it possible? A sign of greatness indeed. He
unquestionably had a will of steel and a class, consistently delivering under
the shadow of other great players. More work, important task but less lime light, indifference of fans and occasionally a
sacrificial lamb to owe failures, are these not enough to kill a talent,
certainly, but not for Rahul, they seemed to have toughened him.
When I look back I realize I always wanted him in the team but loved to
watch Sachin on song and Saurav singing through off side. It was always
delightful to watch, Sachin cutting, pulling and playing that impeccable
awesome straight drive and Saurav stepping out lifting over the extracover. In
tests, more often than not, he came very much as opener as first wicket fell too
early. He maintained his own style of blunting the attack by solid defense.
Initially I considered him as just a blocker but I needed him in dire
situations. As I matured as a cricket fan I could listen his bat beautifully
singing in the cover drive, his flawless flick of the pad and a cut through
point. Sachin demoralized the opposition by colourful batting display, his used
to be a sustained hurricane but Rahul was entrusted with stopping the hurricane
that was bent on destroying Indian line up. Sachin was a thunderstorm that lasted
long but Rahul was a beacon shielded in terrific technique and temperament,
giving light of hope, but killing the opposition first by blunting the weapon
and then catching them unawares by stacking runs through perseverance.
His batting was like a thumari sung by a great classical performer in
style, with great elegance, with all the subtle and delicate tones superbly
rendered, somewhat slow but well composed. It doesn’t shake you but saddles you
firmly in bliss. Apart from the connoisseurs most enjoy cracker of fast rhythm and
tend to forget the slow delightful rendering. His marathon innings were slow in
rhythm but not depleted of subtleties and elegance of great batting display.
His fitness level was something that he needed for long innings which also
remained unappreciated. A great team man did not shy away from donning keeper gloves
for the team, something he did not want.
The way in which Rahul has conducted himself on and off the field cannot
come without an intellectual base. Whatever his background that he remained
firmly rooted to ground maintaining highest standards of code of conduct, decent
mannerism just reflect a thought provoked restless person. If Sachin’s batting
is a spontaneous high power fountain of batting aggression Rahul’s batting
signified an intellectual, thought provoking journey, more on the safer side
for longer travel reflecting maturity, every ball analyzed, treated with
respected and a bad delivery dispatched to boundary but not with disdain but
superior intellectual authority.
No wonder he was the only speaker in the den
of Great Bradman who spoke to the spellbound audience in previous Australia
tour with great confidence, supreme intellectual flavor and above all a
national pride defending Indian cricket, the role he relentlessly played throughout
his long career, against the allegations ranging from quality to money spinning
industry. When I think of him these are the intellectual prowess’s that
fascinate me. I am sure his mental and physical fitness which he maintained
against all odds had behind it an immaculate thought process, analytical in
nature, cultured in character and decent in expression. He played his innings
with devotion, dedication and above all dignity.
In
his retirement also he remained as dignified and as grateful as one can be. In
one of the article in Loksatta by Bishmraj Bam, he questions we will get talented
players but will we get a player as committed and as loyal as Rahul Dravid. Difficult is my
honest answer. His batting flourished against odds and intellect blossomed in
testing conditions. Apart from batting he
remains a less mapped man but it is his hidden intellectual journey that mesmerizes
me. Rahul’s records prove beyond doubt that he belonged to a league of the best
in history of the game but I think it is also time for us to look at Rahul as a
superior intellectual and tall human being colourfully imaged beyond the
records.
Thank you Rahul.
