'People like Gundappa Viswanath and Sudhakar Rao continued to play even
after retirement. I have played with them (in his initial years) and it
was a huge thrill for me to play against them.'
This quote, from the one and only Rahul Dravid, made me marvel at the character of the Wall, once again.
A few months ago, Dravid retired from international cricket.
A few weeks ago, Dravid turned up for his domestic club - yes, even after his retirement from international cricket, and scored a century.
The takeaway news here, is obviously not his century, but the fact that he felt committed enough, to voluntarily give something back to the game.
Yes, to the game that he has loved and lived pretty much all his life, till date.
To the game that's made him what he is, today.
Yet, how often do you see successful stalwarts, who have walked out of the spotlight, come back selflessly, to lend a helping hand for others?
To be a source of inspiration not just through their achievements, but also by their conduct?
There are only some who go on to become stars from amongst the also-rans and the mere mortals.
Even lesser than them are those who become superstars.
And then, there are the select few(er) from among the already few superstars, who become role models.
As I have written earlier too, Rahul Sharad Dravid is one who belongs to that elusive, last category.
So this post will not dwell too much on the talent (which is too evident to negate through the numbers he's stacked up since 1996).
This post is about acknowledging and lauding what a super-successful sports star is doing, to leave the game richer.
All of us know that if ever there is one word that defines him most appropriately, it is selfless. A team-man to the core, RD has done his bit for the team on numerous occasions on the field.
What is worth noticing, is that he his still keen to play, share his experiences and knowledge on the both off and on the field. Even now, after he has retired and need not play, he still turns up for his club in a domestic tournament.
He is still keen to sweat (as profusely as he always has), just so that he can give something back to the game - the same thrill, the same joy, the same lessons - that he learnt, while watching his idols and being starry-eyed and just plain happy about playing, thanks to their presence.
Once again, in the latest news that I read about him, Dravid has, characteristically, also tried to give his two cents in ensuring that the future of Indian cricket is not only in the right hands, but also with the right mind and temperament.
I don't care even if this sounds like a paean to Dravid but with gestures such as these, I like him all the more:
For not simply putting his feet up after an illustrious career and dismissing the new generation with contempt.
No praise is too high for this true champion.
I started this post with a Dravid quote, so it might be only appropriate to end with another one, that sums up what this ever-sensible character has to share for budding cricketers:
'What I'll like to tell young kids is that the greatest satisfaction you are going to get is by playing Test cricket and playing in some of these great stadiums of the world. That will give you the greatest personal satisfaction, so don't sell yourself short. Try and achieve. It is possible. It can be done.'
This quote, from the one and only Rahul Dravid, made me marvel at the character of the Wall, once again.
A few months ago, Dravid retired from international cricket.
A few weeks ago, Dravid turned up for his domestic club - yes, even after his retirement from international cricket, and scored a century.
The takeaway news here, is obviously not his century, but the fact that he felt committed enough, to voluntarily give something back to the game.
Yes, to the game that he has loved and lived pretty much all his life, till date.
To the game that's made him what he is, today.
Yet, how often do you see successful stalwarts, who have walked out of the spotlight, come back selflessly, to lend a helping hand for others?
To be a source of inspiration not just through their achievements, but also by their conduct?
There are only some who go on to become stars from amongst the also-rans and the mere mortals.
Even lesser than them are those who become superstars.
And then, there are the select few(er) from among the already few superstars, who become role models.
As I have written earlier too, Rahul Sharad Dravid is one who belongs to that elusive, last category.
So this post will not dwell too much on the talent (which is too evident to negate through the numbers he's stacked up since 1996).
This post is about acknowledging and lauding what a super-successful sports star is doing, to leave the game richer.
All of us know that if ever there is one word that defines him most appropriately, it is selfless. A team-man to the core, RD has done his bit for the team on numerous occasions on the field.
What is worth noticing, is that he his still keen to play, share his experiences and knowledge on the both off and on the field. Even now, after he has retired and need not play, he still turns up for his club in a domestic tournament.
He is still keen to sweat (as profusely as he always has), just so that he can give something back to the game - the same thrill, the same joy, the same lessons - that he learnt, while watching his idols and being starry-eyed and just plain happy about playing, thanks to their presence.
Once again, in the latest news that I read about him, Dravid has, characteristically, also tried to give his two cents in ensuring that the future of Indian cricket is not only in the right hands, but also with the right mind and temperament.
I don't care even if this sounds like a paean to Dravid but with gestures such as these, I like him all the more:
For not simply putting his feet up after an illustrious career and dismissing the new generation with contempt.
- For being a role model thanks to his impeccable and exemplary conduct.
- For caring enough for the new generation to teach, guide, and mentor them, with his readiness and voluntary, selfless presence on the field with them.
- For being a wise counsel to the next crop of cricketers to also place the value of toil, patience, and perseverance (Test cricket) over and above a world offering dollops of easy cash, glamor, and a laid-out lifestyle.
- For teaching that cricket is great(er) even if every ball is not a Citi Moment of Success or a DLF Maximum. For exemplifying that a ball left well can also be a moment of quiet victory for a batsman in a battle of attrition against the bowler.
- Most importantly, for stressing on and inspiring the new crop with the fact that playing in whites for your country at a fraction of the T20 amount, can still give the ultimate joy, pride, and satisfaction.
No praise is too high for this true champion.
I started this post with a Dravid quote, so it might be only appropriate to end with another one, that sums up what this ever-sensible character has to share for budding cricketers:
'What I'll like to tell young kids is that the greatest satisfaction you are going to get is by playing Test cricket and playing in some of these great stadiums of the world. That will give you the greatest personal satisfaction, so don't sell yourself short. Try and achieve. It is possible. It can be done.'
