The Unsung hero of Indian Cricket

Rahul Sharad Dravid, born 11 January 1973 is a former Indian cricketer and a former captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket.He is currently serving as a head coach for the under-19 & A teams.

Early life:-

Dravid was born in a Marathi family at Indore, Madhya Pradesh & was raised in Bengaluru.Dravid earned a nickname “Jammy” during his school days as his father used to work for a company that made jams.He started playing cricket at the age of 12 and represented Karnataka at the under-15,under-17 & under-19 team before making his Ranji Trophy debut in Feb 1991.Dravid enjoyed a fruitful Ranji season playing alongside his future team-mates Kumble & Srinath ending up the season with 380 runs at a sturdy average of 63.3.His selection for South zone cricket team in Duleep trophy was not at all a surprising one considering his stats in the Ranji.Most students in Bengaluru opted for Engineering course as these colleges used to actively support cricket.But Dravid chose commerce so he could end up doing CA or MBA had he failed in cricket.But he did not make his parents worry as he was about to earn his place in the Indian team.

Dream Test Debut:-

Dravid kept scoring as many runs & centuries in first-class matches & also he represented Indian cement which is now the owner of the most successful IPL team Chennai Super Kings led by one of the most successful former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.The long apprenticeship was finally over when Dravid finally made his debut on June 6,1996 in the home of cricket, Lords.When he walked into bat, half of the Indian side were bundled out with mere 202/5 on board & still trailing by over 100 runs.His partner, Sourav Ganguly his senior by 6 months was also making his debut.Little did Dravid knew that he was playing with his future captain who was affectionately called as Dada.The duo added 94 runs with Dravid missing out on a well deserved 100 falling short of mere 5 runs while the latter went on to score a maiden 100.Dravid made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in June 1996 however his ODI debut was not a successful one when compared to his test debut.

If Gavaskar built his reputation in West Indies, it was in the English summer that Dravid carved a special place of his own scoring 6 Test hundreds and 4 fifties at an average of almost 70 runs in his 13 tests in England.This stat is also the most impressive performance by an Indian batsman.

Career:-

When India toured South Africa in 1996-97, Dravid was awarded the man of the series being the top-scorer for India with 277 runs at an average of 55.40.He continued his splendid performance with the bat following up with centuries against New Zealand, West Indies and holds a record for scoring a century against all test playing nations.On the cricket field, Sachin had been a lone ranger so far but now he had a trusted companion to share the burden, a cricketer blessed with similar guts and commitment.Jammy was slowly beginning to earn the new name as “The Great Wall of India” owing to his solid, immovable & impenetrable technique.Between April 2002 & July 2006,he played 49 tests & scored 4720 runs with an sturdy average(68.40) comprising of 14 test 100’s & 22 test 50’s.In that period, India won tests in Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, England & West Indies & Dravid contributed about 23% of team’s total runs the most by any Indian batsman so far.It was arguably the most glorious period in Indian cricket & Dravid was its central pillar.Dravid was also awarded Man of the Tournament in 1999 World cup.

“Until 2001, we would rely on Sachin to win us games.For the next five years, it was Rahul whose batting took us to another level” says former captain Sourav Ganguly.Also, sportswriter Rohit Brijnath also quoted“Laxman offered me art, Sehwag liberation, Tendulkar consistent genius, but Dravid taught us that the ability to reassure is a gift”

Historic test:-

When the all-conquering Australians under Steve Waugh came to India in 2001, which was famously called as the final frontier.Australia was onto their 17th test consecutive victory at Eden Gardens after scoring a massive 445 in their first innings and bowling out India for a mere 171 gaining a lead of 274.After being enforced the follow-on, Dravid walked in at No:6 with the scoreboard reading 232/4 with India needing 42 runs to avoid an innings defeat.Seeing the scoreboard of India on stumps of Day 3,who would have thought that the match would go until final day,but “Miracles do happen” traces its meaning to Day 4 of Eden Gardens test, when Dravid & Laxman duo kept on batting for the entire day without losing a wicket adding a record-breaking 375 runs before declaring at 657/7.Laxman scored his career-best 281 and Dravid’s 180 made India set a target of 385 for Australia.India became the 2nd team to win a match after being enforced the follow-on.The Eden-Gardens test in 2001 still goes as one of the famous tests wins for India in record books.

Dravid also made a successful impact in India/s tour of Australia in 2003-04.His 233 in first innings and 72* in second innings in Adelaide led India to their first win in Australia after many years under the leadership of Ganguly.Dravid bagged the man of the series award scoring 619 runs at an average of 103.16

Greatest test knock ever in Headingley:-

“Make Hay while the Sun shines”.This proverb usually traces its meaning to England where bright sunlight is a rare sight.When India toured England in 2002, Sourav Ganguly won the toss in Headingley and made a surprising decision to bat first in damp & overcast conditions -conditions favourable for the bowlers, who were eagerly waiting for their captains to win the toss, so that they could bowl.It was really tough conditions for the batsman to bat on, but the Great Wall of India went on to score a fine hundred-a greatest test innings any player could have played.Harsha Bhogle in his recent interview also mentioned his discussion with Dravid during that test match lunch break.He quoted“John Wright, Indian Coach told Dravid that if he went on to make this knock into a 100, this will be the highest point in your cv when you retire”.So 2002 Headingley witnessed the finest knock played by an Indian batsman.

Wall stands tall:-

India’s tour of England in 2011 was a forgetful one as Dhoni’s led team experienced a series whitewash 4-0.The only Indian player who stood tall was none other than Rahul Dravid scoring 461 runs with a sturdy average of 76.83 comprising of 3 100’s and filled up one of the few remaining blanks in his hugely impressive CV-a hundred at Lord’s.“I had just missed out being on Lord’s honours board in my first Test in 1996 but I got it in my last”, he points out.

Captaincy Record:-

Dravid was appointed the Indian captain in late 2005 after a spat broke up between Ganguly and new coach Greg-Chappell.Despite the disastrous World Cup in 2007 following an early exit in the group stage after a shocking defeat to Bangladesh, Dravid led India to many series wins under his leadership.However, Greg Chappel’s tenure as Indian coach proved to be a nightmare for the Indian team as many rifts broke inside the dressing room.Sachin also mentioned about this in his biopic”We were as a team in the field but there was no unity among us thanks to Greg Chappel’s coaching techniques”.

Dravid led India to a historic series win against West Indies in their home soil in 2006 -their first series win since 1971.Also, he was the first Indian captain to win a test match in the South African soil.Dravid also led India team to hold the record for most wins while chasing target(17 matches).After the unforgettable world cup in 2007, Dravid stayed as captain & led India to his first test series win since 1986 before giving up the responsibilities to young Mahendra Singh Dhoni, popularly known as Captain Cool.If Ganguly was fire, Rahul Dravid was Indian cricket’s ice-man -a song of Ice and Fire in reference to the popular American series Game of Thrones.If Dravid provides a comforting link with Indian cricket’s past, Dhoni has truly revolutionized its present i.e if Dravid is cool, then Dhoni is Captain Cool.

Achievements:-

• Dravid is the fourth highest run-getter in tests with a tally of 13,288 runs averaging 52.31 comprising of 36 Test hundreds & also more than 10,000 ODI runs.
•  Dravid scored 7,690 runs at an average of 53.03 away from home-second highest after Sachin Tendulkar.

• Dravid has faced more deliveries (31,258) and spent more time in the middle while batting than any other batsman in the history of test cricket.
• Dravid holds the world record for taking most number of catches as a non-wicket keeper fielder in Test cricket with a tally of 210 catches from 164 matches.
• Dravid and Sachin have involved in more hundred run stands than any other batting pair-6,920 runs with 20-century stands.

And many more ………

Conclusion:-

No Indian cricketer has carried himself with greater dignity and composure in whatever he did on and off the field than Dravid, a steely character.That he played much of his cricket in the shadow of Tendulkar means that we may never quite appreciate the magnitude of some of his statistical achievements.“If Sachin is the Superman of Indian cricket, then Dravid is his Dark Knight”.Dravid announced his retirement on 9th March 2012 bidding goodbye to the International cricket after serving for 16 years.Dravid is also called as the Gentleman of Cricket and his career proves that “Nice guys don’t finish last”.

Since his retirement, cricket has not been the same for me and still miss his action in the field.

“I have failed at times but I haven’t stopped trying”-Rahul Dravid

Wishing you a very happy birthday and all the best for the under 19 world cup starting on January 12.Return home with the cup from New Zealand-a humble request from your fan.#Jammy forver#Gentleman’s Day

India- ready to face Thunder down Under

Newlands, Cape Town is all set to kick-start the freedom series between India & South Africa, which appears as the most anticipated fiery contest for Indian fans.Indian team led by Virat Kohli arrived in South Africa a week before the series for their preparation camp.Most players boarded the flyte along with their family members & welcomed the new year 2k18 in African Islands.As the sun failed to show outdoors, Indian team were forced to practice indoors & chill up with the dishes cooked in Sun-foil oil.

Stats so far…

India was the first country to visit South Africa, after their re-admission into international cricket post the apartheid era.1992-93 was called the historic series as Sachin became the first player to be given out by the third umpire & Omar Henry at the rip age of 40 became the oldest player ever to make a test debut.India tasted their first win in the South African soil in 2006 series under the leadership of Rahul Dravid in Wanderer, Johannesburg-thanks to Sreesanth’s 5-wicket haul and Ganguly’s hard-fought 51 in his comeback match.Lightning also struck twice, when India defeated Proteas for the second time under the leadership of Captain Cool in 2010, Durban.Sachin Tendulkar was the standout man in that series as he raced to his 50th test century.

Leading run-scorer:

For India:1161 runs by Sachin Tendulkar from 15 matches.

For South Africa:974 runs by Jacques Kallis from 9 matches.

Leading wicket-taker:

For India:45 wickets by Anil Kumble from 12 matches

For South Africa:40 wickets by Allan  Donald from 7 matches.

Leading wicket-keeper:

For India:19 dismissals by MS Dhoni from 7 matches

For South Africa:41 dismissals by Mark Boucher from 8 matches.

Highest total:

For India:459/10 at Centurion in 2010

For South Africa:620/4d at Centurion in 2010

Lowest total:

For India:66 at Durban in 1996

For South Africa:84 at Johannesburg in 2006

Highest Individual scores:

For India:169 by Sachin Tendulkar at Cape Town in 1997.

For South Africa:201* by Jacques Kallis at centurion in 2010.

What to look out for-India:

This is the “most balanced” Indian Test side to ever board a flight to South Africa was quoted by the chief national selector MSK Prasad.The No:1 side, flying on cloud nine with nine successive series win is sure to be tested in bouncy-pacy tracks against No:2 side(Proteas) when they lock horns.2k18 is going to test Virat’s captaincy skills as he is going to face an overseas challenge for next 24 months after a successful home season.Last time, when India won a test match in South Africa, many players in the current line-up have not made their debut.So, it will be a great test of patience to leave the ball outside-off  & a strong will of determination to face the speedsters for youngsters.India also has strengthened their pace spearheads equally to match that of Proteas bowling attack to turn this series into a fiery-contest.India also has an advantage of a young bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya who is a recent sensation in the Indian team.Many former players have also praised & compared him to that of Kapil Dev.He balances the squad, which India lacked in the past series.Also to add, Rahane has a sturdy average in Overseas conditions.India also needs contribution from the tail-handers to boost their chance of winning.

Key players: Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya             Rahane, Ishant Sharma

X-Factor: Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar

Injury concerns: Mohammad Shami

Also Sir Ravindra Jadeja, likely to miss the first test due to Viral fever.

 

 

My Probable X1 for the first test:-

1)Murali Vijay 2)KL Rahul 3)Cheteshwar Pujara 4)Virat Kohli(C) 5)Ajinkya Rahane(VC) 6)Hardik Pandya 7)Wriddhiman Saha(Wk) 8)Ravi Ashwin/Bumrah 9)Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 10)Ishant Sharma 11)Mohammad Shami/Umesh Yadav

 

Virat Kohli would like to start 2k18 on a fresh note after being rested for the Sri Lankan series due to his wedding.He is no more a poster boy and is a family man now.So, there is a saying that “with great power comes great responsibility” ……Virushka has been a recent talk of the town in Social media, paper, web etc…referring the couple to that of an F.R.I.E.N.D.S series character Mondler-Wishing them a very happy married life.

Will Virat Kohli create a history by winning a series in South Africa ending the long 25-year wait ..? or will he too eat the dust like other Indian Captains?India needs to play out of their skin to turn the pressure back on Proteas.They also have to learn playing the new ball well and patience to leave the ball outside off. India needs to adapt to the South African pitches & conditions early, else there is no surprise that there is a white-wash awaiting for them.

“Well begun is half done“, So if India makes a strong start to the series going 1-0 up -it boosts huge confidence to the entire squad & management & also a statement to the South Africans, that we are here to create a history.#Bleed blue..

Stay tuned until tomorrow for further updates.Until then it’s Amithrayvon greeting off with New year wishes for everyone.