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Basically a feeling of relief: Dravid

Special Correspondent

Acknowledges those who egged him on during difficult times

— Photo: S. Subramanium

REGAINING HIS TOUCH: Rahul Dravid finally found himself among runs at Mohali; here he sends one to the fence on the off-side.

Mohali: Rahul Dravid was calm and assured as he addressed the media after his innings of 136 here on Saturday.

“It’s been a tough year. It has not been easy,” admitted Test cricket’s most successful No. 3 batsman in terms of runs. Dravid has more than runs in this slot.

He said the innings gave him a lot of satisfaction. “It is nice to make a hundred in these conditions. There was some help for the bowlers.”

About his low key celebration after reaching hundred, Dravid said, “I am older and wiser. I do not jump around excitedly now.” It was Dravid’s first hundred in 20 Test innings.

Expected scrutiny

Dravid said he understood why he was under the media scanner ahead of the Test. “I was not getting the runs. I expected the speculations and the scrutiny to be there.

“It is a part of team sport. You have got to accept it. It has been tough personally.”

On how he felt after reaching the three-figure-mark, Dravid answered, “It was basically a feeling of relief.”

He acknowledged those who egged him on during the difficult times. “So many people have been through the journey with me.

“There have been so many who have wanted me to do well during this phase. It is only when you are down that you see how many people want you to do well.”

At the nets

The ace batsman said he had been hitting the ball well at the nets. “I actually believed I was batting well during this period. I judge myself in how I bat at the nets and I have been doing the right things during practice.

“But then, I was not getting the runs in the middle. It was a question of spending some time at the wicket.”

The former India captain said he had watched videos of his significant previous efforts in Tests for inspiration. “I tried to remember those moments and feelings.”

He had words of praise for mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton and coach Gary Kirsten. “Paddy and Gary helped me relax. They work very well as a combination.”

A good contest

Dwelling again on his 26th Test century, Dravid said, “It was a good contest out there. There were periods where the English bowlers were bowling well. The conditions were not easy.”

Dravid revealed no one had approached him with the idea of batting lower down the order. “There was no talk as such. Nobody told me that I would not be batting at No. 3.”

He congratulated Gautam Gambhir for his strokeful hundred. ”Gautam batted beautifully. He took the pressure off me.”

Test could open up

Dravid predicted that the Test could open up. “The pace of the Tests in India quicken on the last two days.”

On England not batting despite an improvement in the light, he said, “We know the rules. If the light improves after the scheduled close of play — 4. 30 p.m. here — the play cannot resume.”

After the on-going Test series, Dravid said he would focus his attention on the Ranji Trophy.

Talking about Dravid’s innings, England off-spinner Greame Swann said, “Dravid was exceptional for India.”

Swann said England had done well to restrict India to 453. “The pitch is still good. If we manage to take a handy lead, we could put pressure on India. Anything is possible.”

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