The hero one could aspire to be

I have always wondered if Matthew Syed thought of Rahul Dravid before he wrote Bounce. In his superb book, Syed goes on to assert that there is no such thing as genius/natural talent and that success is purely a result of practice and more practice. I wouldn't go so far as to agree completely with the author but he does have a point. Dravid was never among the most gifted batsmen of his generation. Nor was he charismatic- the bums on seats type of player. But then, he was normal, simple and in these traits lie the man's appeal. He worked hard on his technique, proceeded to hit thousands of balls in the nets, learned to sharpen his eyesight and reflexes through sheer effort. Did all this pay off? Yes, most certainly. Dravid could never improvise like a Tendulkar or Sehwag nor did he possess the ability to play three shots for one delivery. But he definitely had mastered the most crucial aspect of batting - that of knowing which shot to play for a particular ball. He had boundless patience and could seemingly stretch it further on demand. He could withstand the toughest conditions and bowling with a bloody mindedness that was scarcely believable.

Dravid had all the runs and centuries to prove that he was among the game's finest. But that is not what set him apart. He did make the game look like a challenge- especially Test cricket. I have often believed that Test cricket is analogous to life. A normal man cannot waft away the difficulties and trials in life but is instead forced to deal with them step by step. Dravid, similarly ensured that he would methodically deal with the challenges in Tests. He blunted the bowlers in the most difficult conditions with his unerring patience and determination. The cornerstones of Dravid's success were his self-belief and intense focus. There were occasions when he was beaten or dismissed playing a rash shot but then, he would be the first to admit his mistake and correct it. Test cricket has charmed audiences because of the variety of characters it has produced. Dravid was one whom the common man could relate to more than anybody else. He was modest, diligent, calm and well-mannered. Dravid took the sport seriously but never transgressed the line. He had an iron will to win but never let it affect his sportsmanspirit.

Dravid finished as the world's second-highest run-getter behind Tendulkar and the fourth-highest century scorer behind Tendulkar, Kallis and Ponting. However, it was never about numbers for the man. He chose to maintain a low profile and funnily enough, almost all his major achievements were also eclipsed or cast to the background by other incidents. His vital 180 in Kolkata, 2001, is almost forgotten in light of Laxman's immortal 281. Not that the man cared. He always put the team ahead of himself and this is reflected in his final decision to retire. Given his glorious career, he probably had the right to play on and choose a farewell at home. But then, that would never be Dravid-like. He always performed like it was his duty and never once did he consider himself better than the others around. One could find an analogy with the quiet worker in a company who is responsible for the strong foundation and success but never quite gets the credit he deserves. Dravid was the pivot around which the rest of the team revolved. He performed when it mattered the most and when the chips were down. He did have a few chinks- just two centuries against Australia and South Africa being the most notable. But then, a wall is not remembered for a few loose bricks but is instead respected for its overall stability. In the end, Dravid proved that he is a hero worth emulating both as a cricketer and human being. His individual innings may always take the backseat but his contribution to the team for 16 years can never be measured in terms of statistics. He always will be the hero one can and must aspire to be.