Rahul Dravid: The gentleman of a gentleman’s game

BANGALORE, INDIA: When it comes to recounting innumerable achievements of this star cricketer, this role model of sportsmanship, a lot of people have done the job of giving an ode, already and in a brilliant way.

These people range from countless fans, cricket experts, legends in their own names, and even critics.

Actually even females. It's one of those man's game still, let's face it, and getting girls interested in Cricket often takes either an entertainment-packed league or a really great story out there.

For many such cricket-philic and cricket-phobic females too, this man became an idol. And that's why Rahul Dravid, aptly deserves the tag of being a real change agent when it comes to cricket, and sports and more.

Because even if people do not remember off-the-cuff all those statistics he scored, the man stays undisputedly, a person who rhymes together with dependability and integrity. Probably one of the few names, who can flank the likes of Sachin Tendulkar in the cricket pantheon, when it comes to playing right off the field too.

Dravid might have announced his retirement from international cricket last year, but the void he has left, speaks so much of what he meant. People miss him for many rare and timeless qualities like his rock solid nature, his consistency as a player, his polite mein, gentle conduct, and have even christened him as Mr Dependable.

Rahul has been known for being an achiever but one that never forgot what being cordial yet professional meant. In fact, as heard recently, the former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell also complimented Rahul Dravid for showing pride and dignity when it came to his team.

No doubt, he earned so much respect form his teammates, contemporaries and fans alike. His respect for the game fetched him a lot of awe and continuing deference.

His qualities and ability to support his team selflessly and silently fetched him a rare moniker 'The Wall'. He has exuded the essence in all roles: as a stand-by wicketkeeper, stand-by captain and stand-by opener, and wherever required to be a strong buttress. These are some exceptional and of course, exceptionable qualities when it comes to Cricket.

Playing for everyone and steering the team towards the big picture as a real captain, are his special inspiration spots.

 

It's not as much about the number of Tests and ODIs, or being the so-and-so highest run-getter in the history of test cricket, notching so many runs in international cricket or taking an astounding number of catches (test cricket) at the time of retirement; it's about being un-interrupted and someone who can be depended upon, game-wise and otherwise.

He is also admired for being one of the fittest cricketers of the Indian team at the age 39. His consciousness for eating right, meditations and rigorous exercise regimens add to his aura. Many chant abilities like intensity and relaxation, self awareness and modesty, Test orthodoxy and limited overs creativity in writings about him. It is also mentioned there how Dravid played under the shadow of mavens like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, and yet proved his mettle always. His traits as a human being, fill so many with adulation and love for the game once again.

The humble, patient gentleman, as he is still fondly missed as, continues to inspire and play in the real pitch as if no umpire works better than your own values and consciousness radar.

An all rounder, Rahul Dravid stays epitomized as the ‘Timeless Steel'.