He has not retired, he will, someday, and again, in that process, remind us of the only truth, TIME. But, this piece is just about taking a pause, a break and being honestly grateful to my favorite cricketer.
As I sit down to write about a cricket lover's admiration and gratefulness to this man, Rahul S Dravid, the first thought that comes to my mind is the symbolism of his first name : Rahul.
That simple,common, ubiquitous, Indian name is one of those things that probably lends so much meaning and character to his presence in every Indian cricket fan's life.
But, then, there are many things. Thoughts, memories and moments, as also a glimpse at what it is to be such a great champion, man, cricketer and batsman, in that order.
We all have many hours of cricket watching, discussing, cursing, rejoicing and understanding behind us. But, when I think of 'great'ness in a man, especially Rahul Dravid, my thought wanders to a very simple question that my kid sister put to me years ago while getting increasingly irritated by me being continuously glued to the TV for that 2001 test match.
" Bhaiya, Khelta koi aur hai.. maza unko aata hai khelne ka.. paise unko milte hain .. to tumlogon ko TV pe yeh dekh ke milta kya hai ..Aisa to hai nahi ki tum field pe batting kar rahe ho" ?
I had no answer to that simple, honest, childish query. But, I knew that even if I could put it in words, she would never understand. Sport is like that. The 'feeling' behind a sublime shot or a forehand winner is above any adjective for a connoisseur. Sadly enough, even an art as honest, as close to human spirit of freedom, and as purely soul-lifting as SPORT has been forced to the measures and judgements of 'achievement' and 'contribution' rather than 'enjoyment'. Somewhere along time, the word 'professional' entered the lexicon of art. May the art be of a Satyajit Ray, a John Lennon, or a WG Grace, in our age, in our times, as we grew up, you had to be a Professional. You had to be measured, compared, put to various tests. And you could not flinch even once. A sportsman could enjoy his game, his ART, he could live his art and his talent. But all along, for the people, for the connoisseurs, for their enjoyment, you would have to stand up to their tests, their scales of measurement.
In cricket, these tests were time, endurance, geographies and formats. Add Indian cricket to it, and it could also be expectations, fans, pressure, insane money as also sometimes, instant ridicule. And that is why, here I don't intend to discuss cricket and Rahul, it is only him, the man. For his stature, Cricket is only a mirror, a tool, which shows us, the fans, the lovers of art, his true gift, greatness and achievement.
1996 for me, sport wise, gave us two things, Rahul Dravid and the start of Ferrari and Schumacher. And again, their achievements indicate very clearly to us the fact that for such men, of such immense talent, their sport and their methods are only tools and indicators. Both have been criticized, one for his slow adaptation to different formats, one for his seemingly brash, sometimes unfair means to victory in races. But, both had their own methods, their own roads and means to putting our mundane measures, scales and judgements to shame and acing them left, right and center.
There are memories of Dravid, his century at Lord's, his shot in the Adelaide test which gave India THAT elusive victory on Australian soil chasing 233, his batting in Pakistan. His epic 180 and many such treats. I have sidestepped comparisons with legends, SRT, Ganguly and such. They seem futile, almost insulting and honestly, sometimes, just a show off for prickly, half-learned, statistical, so called fans of the cricketers. In effect, they are slaves, to numbers and those measures. Ganguly will never show up, at least statistically, as a champion. But, was he not ? In his own way? In his own inimitable style and aura? Anyways, these questions are precisely the reasons I hate such comparisons. The 'value' of a champion is something else. The 'value' of the Athens 1996 Bronze medal by Leander Paes is indescribable, for I happened to watch it. The 'context' takes over. The DD1 era, the Black and White 14" television, the Olympics, the one hope, the one victory, the national anthem, the Indian flag wrapped around. As much as I hate phoney patriotism, I don't control my goosebumps, no one does, you don't control 'that' feeling.
Much as I wish that 'enjoyment' be the measure of art and an artist, one realizes that today's world demands
proofs of greatness. The 'value', the 'champion' today is a union of talent, achievement, longevity, doggedness, enjoyment, contribution and statistical supremacy.
And Dravid was that. He is that. He is much more. Long after he retires, he will remind you, people who have grown along Indian cricket, of his stance, his Britannia labelled bat, the dogged, steely stance, the always, clean shaven, gentlemanly face and the purposeful demeanor.
The mastery of his art, the 70's and the cover drives, the satisfaction and trust of his presence on the crease, the inevitable, invisible, silent voice inside you of 'Abey yaar .. Dravid bhi gaya ' when he walked back ..his 'Value'. His meaning and his genius.
Statistics will be useful, for the generations who will not watch such men, not live them, in their homes, dining rooms, not discuss them in those 20 minute lunch breaks in schools. A bookish aura, a historical awe will probably take over, as we today connect to Bradman and Dhyanchand and Ali. But, numbers and those pages will still be servants. To that in-situ feeling of having lived alongside and understood and cherished such champions. Count yourselves of immense fortune, for being a witness to Sachin, Steve Waugh, Federer, Woods, Lara and such men, deserves a pause, once in a while, to stand back, be thankful and just admire.
Rahul S Dravid will surely be one such life.
