The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : On his way to greatness

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 09, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

On his way to greatness

By Our Special Correspondent

LONDON, SEPT. 8. He has scripted some glorious days for Indian cricket around the world. It was his turn now to light up the night at the regal Alexandra Palace here. If Rahul Dravid was the star of the evening at the ICC awards, he deserved the honour.

Cricket's most devoted student was being acknowledged for promoting the sport in its true spirit. A batsman gifted with immense potential, Dravid was only living the dreams of his childhood when he desired nothing but to play cricket.

His loyalty, devotion and discipline formed an awesome amalgam that helped him develop his game. The journey that began in a school in Bangalore has carried Dravid to various cricket peaks but this was a night on earth to cherish.

Humble man

Once again, it was Dravid's humility that stood out. He has always conducted himself impeccably in public and earned accolades from the worst of critics for his steely resolve but his little speech on the glittering stage stood out.

He remembered his parents, wife, friends, and did not forget the man who shaped his career — K. K. Tarapore — teaching him the basics of the game, and teaching them so well. Dravid is an epitome of correct batsmanship in a world where technique has been hit for a six by cross-batted promoters of slam-bang cricket.

Tribute to his quality

The honour was a tribute to Dravid's quality cricket. He has served the team with distinction and a rare sense of dedication. It would not be wrong to say he is obsessed with his batting and the high standards that he has set. Like most champions from other sport, Dravid often raises the bar to carry batting to great heights.

He sets goals and achieves them with a dogged pursuit befitting a performer. He remains a sporting cricketer who learns from mistakes and does not hesitate to give credit to the opponent.

One of the finest batsmen to grace modern cricket, Dravid has lent class to the art of batsmanship. His brisk and confident walk to the middle, his ideal stance, range of shots, a nearly impregnable defence and unflinching concentration make him a batsman worthy of emulation. The skills of building an innings are so pronounced when he is at the crease.

A captain's delight

Dravid is a captain's delight in every term. There are not many who can match the intensity that he brings to his cricket. From preparation to execution, he is flawless in his approach. Of course, there have been failures to haunt him but he has not allowed them to colour his vision of the game.

For a batsman as conscious of his cricket as Dravid, at times he has proved an underachiever in the shorter version of the game, many a time unable to translate his dominance into big scores. Yet, his contribution in this area cannot be ignored. By keeping wickets in two World Cup tournaments, he has shown immense adaptability in the interest of Indian cricket.

Going by his desire to achieve more, one can expect Dravid to carry on with increased vigour. Indian cricket looks up to this perfect role model to scale greater peaks and this could be just the first step in his ultimate goal of attaining greatness.

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