Just a tribute, no bragging of Records, what he meant to me, and millions of true Dravid-ians
This man needs no introduction, but sadly he does, for all what he has done over the years, he is always there considered right below the Sachin-Ponting-Lara-Kallis quartet and infact the most underrated player of this era, I believe he is second to none. He is best at what he is, being the Rahul Dravid
The Wall as he is mostly referred to is an irony to itself, to be on a cricket field, but I get it, he is the last thing that separates his team and his opponent team, infact those who can't face the opposition, take cover of him, and raised a cowardly generation of players, the blame is on him, but that now we can take comfort the players will erupt courageous atleast now. When he took guard on the field, he didn't just take guard - as the cricketing term would mean, but he took guard of the team he represented, every time.
The Jammy, the Wall or whatever he was, for me he is the Fort, a great refuge and the shelter where you can take comfort and get wasted away because you know it's under control when he is around, it's panic time when he walks out, literally
He is one of the most respected batsman who even commanded respect among his opponents, never been in a controversy, sledging, racism, drama - that is pretty much what drives in this generation of the sport. The last of the breed of gentlemen in the sport, all that was left of the classic cricket and no fancy, will be remembered for not just playing the sport, but with dignity.
I know for certain that if they ever make a cricketing text book or a video guide like a cricketing manual, I know who will be asked to demonstrate most of the batting strokes, yes I said it, he is the technically most sound and clean batsman that there ever was, infact I have never seen him play a rash stroke, unorthodox or silly - A purist if i can call him so. To be simply put, It ain't in the text book, If he hasn't played it!
And also pretty certain about the fact that all the skilled modern batsmen will be measured against him, the benchmark, the standard if you will. And as he was always known to give a price tag to his wicket, he brought the 'if you want my wicket, you better deserve it, because I am not going to make it easy for u' attitude every time he walked onto the pitch.
He was a sadist to the bowlers, who toiled hard in hot humid conditions, difficult pitches, he would basically suck everything out of them until they are left for submission and gradually he will be going on with his business getting the runs even without being noticed. - He knew only one way to play it, unselfish, not even sure if that's a word - but i hope you get what i meant there, he was there to give it all whatever he had to offer, even had to dance to the tunes of the puppet masters the BCCI, the coach and the various Captains he played under.
He is a man for all seasons, has donned all roles, being a team man suits him the best though, makes him more satisfied nonetheless, he doesn't complain, he would do anything to just be a part of the team and with utmost sincerity, afterall the pitch is his sacred place and he is devoted to the game itself - infact has produced a new role in the cricket, the breed that which can categorise the hussey, trott, amla, cook of the now, if you have the technique you have no limits, you can adapt any format kind. He is a true inspiration and testament to all those who still believe in the sport and not be lured by the cheerleaders and slam-bang culture that is the very idea for entertainment than the sport as a sport, the legacy.
Many fail to acknowledge his role in the limited-overs format of the game, he is infact in the elite club of 10K runs, not to make it statistical in any way, if anyone be sane would be knowing that he has been part of the two historic biggest partnerships with Sachin and Ganguly (talking more about it only would be bragging that is not very much RD-like), he is always the common denominator for the success - the secret ingredient.
He is graceful in defeat, gracious in win and the saving grace in a draw. Good for him he never had an avid fan following, to get distracted, a master never likes the attention when he is at work, and when he is done, all he leaves us with is an feeling of awe. Always had his heart at the right place, never got carried away with all the changes around him, kept his head straight throughout his career, how many in the current scenario can challenge him on that.
He always brings in the undeterrable spirit, passion like no other, a will and determination with his game, and what makes him the warrior I salute is that he is unwilling to submit, not afraid to fail, but will not go down with a fight, that's what makes him the hero, not the macho flashy strokes.
The nice guy he was, he was always taken for granted, had to fill in for wicket-keeper in the ODIs, as opener in Tests, and even didn't show the unwilling face when he was asked to play in a T20 in dying stages of his career When no one else was upto it. For he can take it, he is RD, a true gentleman, the only one left.
Be it the curse of the Gillete, that all of its brand ambassadors (Tiger Woods, Federer, Thierry Henry, Dravid) had to go through a lean phase after the famous commercial, he had redeemed himself just prior to his retirement though, made a statement why he is the very best at what he does when he was the only one who was between Ind getting whitewashed by Eng, but his efforts were not good enough to even salvage some pride - Truly he left a mark that series why he is so different from everyone else, made the message clearly written on the wall, when no one else can, Rahul Dravid can.
The crisis man, the goto person when you have no hope, if i ever had to bet my life on someone on a cricket field, it would have to be this guy, because I know only he can handle it, even the greatest of the greatest or so who are being proclaimed (statisticians, fanboys who will claim so) I won't bet on.
I am so proud and happy that I have seen him once but hate myself for not to have taken an autograph from him, well i was too young and hard to fend off our school seniors towering a feet over us ( me and my friends ofcourse ), he was gracious enough that day to wait and sign a few autograph and can't forget he spoke few words in tamil that he would sign us if we wud line up properly, so graceful on and off the field, i still hate that Ganguly and Sachin ignored us that day.
He left the sport unharmed, just the way it was when he walked in, only leaving with pride of being part of it, but the sport will never be the same for he has changed it forever, for the better. He was taught to preserve the game, and he did his part very well infact.
I better not start on his commitment and sportsmanship. phew..
I was very fond as a kid of his square cuts, eventhough he was not known for powerful strokes, his square cuts looked manly and elegant at the same time, and can’t forget the Hook Hook advertisements on the Telly. Also was fascinated about his inner gloves, I don’t see anyone else wear that, so unique and trademark RD.
He was more often than not treated like a cheap hooker, but he went on to do his business like a true professional, he may have left with his destiny alongwith him, but he can't erase the footmarks he has left, the legend. Someday, those footsteps will be the inspiration for many..
But truly he will be missed, not today, not tomorrow, when the score is 3/1 at the end of second over and when the team would look upto someone to consolidate the innings, he is best at what he is, being the Rahul Dravid.
The Jammy, the Wall or whatever he was, for me he is
The forgotten, the Unheralded, unprecedented Gem of cricket, O! I am at loss of words
PS:
This is from a fan's perspective, I am not a writer, sports analyst or anything. Just wanted to share my Tribute to my Favourite player, for I believed in everything he did, because he is so genuine personality, and I take so much pride to be a fan, a Dravid-ian, because he is that much more special.
I have read quite a few tributes and comments on RD since his retirement, this is my very own, might seem meaningless at this point, but it took me sometime for the feeling to settle in and take courage to write it, or in other words can say I was being lazy..
This man needs no introduction, but sadly he does, for all what he has done over the years, he is always there considered right below the Sachin-Ponting-Lara-Kallis quartet and infact the most underrated player of this era, I believe he is second to none. He is best at what he is, being the Rahul Dravid
The Wall as he is mostly referred to is an irony to itself, to be on a cricket field, but I get it, he is the last thing that separates his team and his opponent team, infact those who can't face the opposition, take cover of him, and raised a cowardly generation of players, the blame is on him, but that now we can take comfort the players will erupt courageous atleast now. When he took guard on the field, he didn't just take guard - as the cricketing term would mean, but he took guard of the team he represented, every time.
The Jammy, the Wall or whatever he was, for me he is the Fort, a great refuge and the shelter where you can take comfort and get wasted away because you know it's under control when he is around, it's panic time when he walks out, literally
He is one of the most respected batsman who even commanded respect among his opponents, never been in a controversy, sledging, racism, drama - that is pretty much what drives in this generation of the sport. The last of the breed of gentlemen in the sport, all that was left of the classic cricket and no fancy, will be remembered for not just playing the sport, but with dignity.
I know for certain that if they ever make a cricketing text book or a video guide like a cricketing manual, I know who will be asked to demonstrate most of the batting strokes, yes I said it, he is the technically most sound and clean batsman that there ever was, infact I have never seen him play a rash stroke, unorthodox or silly - A purist if i can call him so. To be simply put, It ain't in the text book, If he hasn't played it!
And also pretty certain about the fact that all the skilled modern batsmen will be measured against him, the benchmark, the standard if you will. And as he was always known to give a price tag to his wicket, he brought the 'if you want my wicket, you better deserve it, because I am not going to make it easy for u' attitude every time he walked onto the pitch.
He was a sadist to the bowlers, who toiled hard in hot humid conditions, difficult pitches, he would basically suck everything out of them until they are left for submission and gradually he will be going on with his business getting the runs even without being noticed. - He knew only one way to play it, unselfish, not even sure if that's a word - but i hope you get what i meant there, he was there to give it all whatever he had to offer, even had to dance to the tunes of the puppet masters the BCCI, the coach and the various Captains he played under.
He is a man for all seasons, has donned all roles, being a team man suits him the best though, makes him more satisfied nonetheless, he doesn't complain, he would do anything to just be a part of the team and with utmost sincerity, afterall the pitch is his sacred place and he is devoted to the game itself - infact has produced a new role in the cricket, the breed that which can categorise the hussey, trott, amla, cook of the now, if you have the technique you have no limits, you can adapt any format kind. He is a true inspiration and testament to all those who still believe in the sport and not be lured by the cheerleaders and slam-bang culture that is the very idea for entertainment than the sport as a sport, the legacy.
Many fail to acknowledge his role in the limited-overs format of the game, he is infact in the elite club of 10K runs, not to make it statistical in any way, if anyone be sane would be knowing that he has been part of the two historic biggest partnerships with Sachin and Ganguly (talking more about it only would be bragging that is not very much RD-like), he is always the common denominator for the success - the secret ingredient.
He is graceful in defeat, gracious in win and the saving grace in a draw. Good for him he never had an avid fan following, to get distracted, a master never likes the attention when he is at work, and when he is done, all he leaves us with is an feeling of awe. Always had his heart at the right place, never got carried away with all the changes around him, kept his head straight throughout his career, how many in the current scenario can challenge him on that.
He always brings in the undeterrable spirit, passion like no other, a will and determination with his game, and what makes him the warrior I salute is that he is unwilling to submit, not afraid to fail, but will not go down with a fight, that's what makes him the hero, not the macho flashy strokes.
The nice guy he was, he was always taken for granted, had to fill in for wicket-keeper in the ODIs, as opener in Tests, and even didn't show the unwilling face when he was asked to play in a T20 in dying stages of his career When no one else was upto it. For he can take it, he is RD, a true gentleman, the only one left.
Be it the curse of the Gillete, that all of its brand ambassadors (Tiger Woods, Federer, Thierry Henry, Dravid) had to go through a lean phase after the famous commercial, he had redeemed himself just prior to his retirement though, made a statement why he is the very best at what he does when he was the only one who was between Ind getting whitewashed by Eng, but his efforts were not good enough to even salvage some pride - Truly he left a mark that series why he is so different from everyone else, made the message clearly written on the wall, when no one else can, Rahul Dravid can.
The crisis man, the goto person when you have no hope, if i ever had to bet my life on someone on a cricket field, it would have to be this guy, because I know only he can handle it, even the greatest of the greatest or so who are being proclaimed (statisticians, fanboys who will claim so) I won't bet on.
I am so proud and happy that I have seen him once but hate myself for not to have taken an autograph from him, well i was too young and hard to fend off our school seniors towering a feet over us ( me and my friends ofcourse ), he was gracious enough that day to wait and sign a few autograph and can't forget he spoke few words in tamil that he would sign us if we wud line up properly, so graceful on and off the field, i still hate that Ganguly and Sachin ignored us that day.
He left the sport unharmed, just the way it was when he walked in, only leaving with pride of being part of it, but the sport will never be the same for he has changed it forever, for the better. He was taught to preserve the game, and he did his part very well infact.
I better not start on his commitment and sportsmanship. phew..
I was very fond as a kid of his square cuts, eventhough he was not known for powerful strokes, his square cuts looked manly and elegant at the same time, and can’t forget the Hook Hook advertisements on the Telly. Also was fascinated about his inner gloves, I don’t see anyone else wear that, so unique and trademark RD.
He was more often than not treated like a cheap hooker, but he went on to do his business like a true professional, he may have left with his destiny alongwith him, but he can't erase the footmarks he has left, the legend. Someday, those footsteps will be the inspiration for many..
But truly he will be missed, not today, not tomorrow, when the score is 3/1 at the end of second over and when the team would look upto someone to consolidate the innings, he is best at what he is, being the Rahul Dravid.
The Jammy, the Wall or whatever he was, for me he is
The forgotten, the Unheralded, unprecedented Gem of cricket, O! I am at loss of words
PS:
This is from a fan's perspective, I am not a writer, sports analyst or anything. Just wanted to share my Tribute to my Favourite player, for I believed in everything he did, because he is so genuine personality, and I take so much pride to be a fan, a Dravid-ian, because he is that much more special.
I have read quite a few tributes and comments on RD since his retirement, this is my very own, might seem meaningless at this point, but it took me sometime for the feeling to settle in and take courage to write it, or in other words can say I was being lazy..
No comments:
Post a Comment