Rahul Dravid: When the going gets Tough, the Tough get going

The Wall: Standing tall in the face of peril

The day was 23^rd June, 15 years ago. A young debutant, player number 207 for India against England missed out on his maiden century by a whisker at Lord’s. Almost making up for the same, against a different opposition though and at a different venue, this man has earned every bit of the respect that the cricketing fraternity showers on him. He might not be facing the fearsome quartet of the 70s or 80s, yet at Sabina Park today, after a seven hour toil of building the innings brick by brick to shell India out of trouble yet again, it was just another day in office for Rahul Dravid.

Nicknamed as ‘The Wall’, Dravid was doing what the man is best known for. A well crafted century, number 32 in Dravid’s Test career, not only helped India take a formidable 325 run lead in the first of the three test match series, but also spoke volumes about man’s character.

Dropped by Captain Darren Sammy on 6 off paceman Ravi Rampaul very early in the innings, disappointment was very clear on the faces of the trio, for Dravid knew it was one of those rare moments when his patience faltered, the two West Indians had realized, almost instantly, that they’ll have to pay heavily for this missed opportunity. Dravid sure made that the Windies toiled, playing every next stroke with utmost caution, calm and composure and not fiddling with the deliveries outside his off.

With his rock solid defense and flawless technique, Dravid stood tall even as his partners perished one by one at the other end. With the immense patience that he is known for, Dravid tried to build important partnerships with all, debutant Mukund and Kohli, and Suresh Raina. However, close to his century, as India were eight down, leggie Amit Mishra played the perfect partner to Dravid to help the 38 year old veteran complete his hundred and push India’s lead beyond the magical 300 mark.

His gritty 112 at a testing track like that of Jamaica was a perfect coaching-manual in action for any youngster watching the game. The beautifully crafted ton under the tremendous pressure established, one more time, that he has not been christened ‘The Wall’ for nothing.

It is not the first time the critics have questioned his abilities. And it’s not the first time Dravid has proven that form is temporary but class is permanent. No big celebrations, no display of emotions on the field, yet this fighting hundred from Dravid has served a perfect notice to his critics that this man still has missiles in his tank left. Commitment, Consistency & Class well personified, that’s Rahul Sharad Dravid for you!

Purnima Malhotra