Beyond The Wall

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.