2012: End of an era in Indian cricket

The year 2012 will be remembered by Indian cricket fans as the year in which their team got demolished 4-0 Down Under, the year in which India’s home dominance was ended by a determined English side and for the retirements of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar (from ODIs). This year marks the end of an era in Indian Test cricket with Dravid and Laxman retiring, and having left big boots to be filled.

Sachin Tendulkar, without any doubt, is the most successful batsman in the 50-over format of the game. His record speaks for itself; with more than 18,000 runs, 49 centuries and with the batsmen 2nd on those two lists miles behind him, it just shows that his accomplishments are at a completely different level. It took the little master 79 ODI games to score his first century, but since then he has amassed tons of runs. He has entertained fans all over the world by his brilliant knocks and it is sad that he won’t play for India in coloured clothing ever again. He is respected on and off the field for his behaviour and is an ambassador of the gentleman’s game.

2012 has also seen Rahul Dravid bid adieu to international cricket. Dravid, fondly called as “The Wall”, had pulled India out of trouble many times in his career. Dravid’s knocks against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001, and at Adelaide in 2003, will never be forgotten. He was one of the pioneers in helping India claim victory from the jaws of defeat in those two Test matches. When it came to saving India from the blushes, he was the man who never let the team down. Dravid, famous for his trademark straight drives and cover drives, had been overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar, but it never bothered him and he was always a team man. Despite being regarded as a defensive player by many, he had a brilliant ODI record and produced some memorable knocks in the ODI format as well. Dravid is a role model for youngsters aspiring to play for India.

Brett Lee on Dravid: “If you can’t get along with Dravid, you are struggling in life.”

Brian Lara on Dravid: “If I have to put anyone to bat for my life, it’ll be Kallis or Dravid.”

VVS Laxman is another genius who bid adieu to international cricket in 2012. The stylish and elegant Hyderabadi right-handed batsman was an unsung hero in Indian cricket. VVS Laxman made his debut against South Africa in 1996 and was not able to cement his place in the team till the series against Australia in 2001. Laxman shot to fame with a brilliant knock of 281 at the Eden Gardens against Australia who had enforced the follow on. India were staring down the barrel and it looked as if India would lose the Test series, but VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid had other ideas. Laxman has made vital contributions in some of India’s memorable Test wins, like the win in Adelaide (2004), Johannesburg (2006), Perth (2008), Mohali (2010), Durban (2010) etc. However, Laxman has not had much of the limelight because of the other great players in the team dominating the headlines.

John Wright on Laxman: “Watch him, but don’t try to imitate. Only VVS can play them.”

Indian cricket will miss the services of Laxman and Dravid. Their individual records have been great and also they were great as a pair. Eden Gardens (2001) and Adelaide (2004) are two of the greatest Test victories for India and it would not have been possible without these two legends. The retirement of these two legends marks the end of an era in Indian cricket and has left a huge void in the Indian batting lineup. Hopefully, the talented young Indian batsmen can fill the voids left by these two legends and the Indian Test cricket team can get back to the top spot in the Test rankings.