Rahul Dravid - The Wall. Yes he is truly a wall who is so difficult to dislodge and would require some real character stuff from bowlers to get him out. One of the greatest Indian batsman of all time and the present No-1 Test Batsman in India and ofcourse one of the best in the world and also the present captain of the Indian one day and Test team. This man has done it all in his career spanning exactly a decade now.
When he started people admired his technical correctness and were quick to predict a long term in Indian cricket which ofcourse was proved little later after his one day debut in his debut test against England at Lords. He along with Ganguly formed a formidable pair and probably were instrumental in ending the careers of gifted players like Sanjay Manjrekar and Vinod Kambli. Indian team those times were very strong in home but very weak in away games which was proved time and again. Under Azharuddins reign India reached new levels in Test cricket by defeating a formidable English side 3-0 at home, winnning lankans at home and away. Also not to forget their many one day triumphs during those period. But the biggest concern was their performance abroab, especially outside subcontinent. Indian couldnt defeat the debutant sides like Zimbabwe or reentry side like South Africa in their away series. They also tasted big defeats in Australia and disastrous WC 1992. Though India did well to reach semis in WC 96, much more was expected from the home side and also it was at home.
In this backdrop and after a humiliating semifinal defeat against Sri lanka, India decided to completely revamp their side. Players like Sanjay Manjrekar, Vinod Kambli, Manoj Prabhakar were all dropped from the side. Though Azhar was retained, he had lost much of his charisma by then and for the English tour India decided to blood in two young budding cricketers Dravid and Ganguly. Though Sachin had made his stand, the Indian batting looked very weak and playing their old side they were beaten and bruised in the first test with only Sachin battling the grounds. People had become restless and were accusing fingers and in this backdrop emerged two icons of which one (Ganguy) went on to become Indias most succesful captain, one of the all time best odi batsman and the most valuable cricketer India has produced. The other Rahul Dravid our article hero is the present skipper of the Indian team and all teh attributes I have given him earlier.
Dravid started the transition and probably he made more difference to Indian test team than did sachin, Sachin was more charismatic, poster boy character whereas Dravid was more result oriented. Though you dont see so many media hailing Dravid, he has better test average tahn Sachin, better captaincy record tahn sachin, better temperament tahn sachin, has won more matches than sachin. Last but not the least his match and series winning performance in the recently concluded West Indies tour proved it once again.
Dravids highligh in his test career has been his never say die attitude, his performance speaks volumes for his grand career. Who can forget his epic knock og 181 in Kolkata with laxma against Invisible aussie attack. Or his double hundred in series winning match against Pakistan. What about his two hundred in same test match record or his impeccable test average which I suppose is best for any Indian cricketer. Or his record of most double hundreds - 5, by an Indian. Right from his debut at Lords he has achieved things continuously and of you want me to pick one Indian cricketer for thsi great Indian Rennaissance in Test cricket in away games it would be rahul Dravid. Also he is quickest to 9000 test runs and am sure he has lots more to offer, I would put my money on dravid than sachin for most test runs in the world.
Also with exit of ganguly and sachin spending more time off field tahn on lately due to injuries, he has become the pivotal rock around which the Indian batting revolves. He has test average of 65 in away games, boy he is so gifted. Sadly no I think its hardwrk unlike Sachin for whiom things come so easily I think Dravid has put lots more efforts and deserves every bit of his achievements.
His one day record is nothing to shy away from. though initially he was criticized for being too slow for one day games, he proved very quickly taht he can adjust very well to this format as well by hitting string of high scores in one day circuit. Who can forget that he was the highest run getter in 1999 Wc or his prolific form in NZ tour of 1999. Also his commitment to the team was proved once agains when he kept wickets for India for a period of almost three years and still maintained hisgh one day average. He is instrumental in many Indian odi wins and laso his record partnership with first sourav in 1999 WC against Sl and then with sachin against NZ were also proof for his one day exploits.
In conclusion I think Dravid has been a huge difference to an Indian away batting from looking good to great. He has done more than enough to prove his claim his as one of India's greatest batsman and ofcourse as one of the most valuable cricketer India has ever produced. I salute to this great Indian cricket legend and whom if am not wrong can play another 5 years of international cricket before retirement such is his strength and he is no way towards the end and infact is at the peak of his career. Unlike sachin and ganguly who both seem to be more towards the end of their career this chap has loads of cricket left in him and which ofcourse means India can see loads of away victories from him. Until next time this is lomi signing off.
