"If you can’t get along with Rahul Dravid, you’re struggling in life." - Brett Lee.
It is one thing to be a nice guy while not doing (achieving) much else in life.
As one of the Siddhuisms goes, "he is a humble person, but he has a lot to be humble about"!
Well, let's just say, Rahul Sharad Dravid is certainly a man who wears his legendary status very well.
All his accomplishments have only made him even more humble, even more endearing, and he remains a gentleman to the core.
There are many people who excel in their chosen field. Many become legends too.
Yet, it's only a handful who go on to cap their achievements with the sort of conduct that transcends them from being "excellent" to being an "idol".
A complete team man, and unflinchingly selfless, here was a guy who did all he could, sacrificing his personal comfort/preferences happily, even almost unnoticeably (if given a choice).
Team struggling on overseas conditions.
No one else ready/capable/willing to open the batting.
Need an opener?
There he was. For his team, for his country, selflessly.
Team needs to play an extra batsman in its XI? (Yeah, the pre-Dhoni era).
Sure captain, will also keep wickets, to have the extra man included in lieu of the 'keeper.
Need someone to hold one end up, winning the battle of attrition against hostile bowlers?
Sure captain, will do.
One can find batsmen at a dime a dozen, when it comes to plundering bowlers on flat tracks.
But when all others in the team are struggling to even survive, it takes the class of a Rahul Dravid to flourish and excel, consistently, time and time again, the world over.
It always needs skill as well as big match temperament to dominate Australia in Australia.
England in England.
South Africa in South Africa.
New Zealand in New Zealand.
Without any chest-beating bravado, without fuming any expletives.
By just plundering oppositions (with his bat), while still remaining a gentleman.
If our demigod - Sachin Tendulkar was the Ram of Indian cricket, I dare say Rahul Dravid was the quintessential Hanuman - the quiet, unassuming hero in his own right, happy to scale superhuman landmarks, yet stay rooted, grounded, quiet and behind-the-scenes out of his own volition.
Time and time again.
To borrow a Shastri'ism this time, cometh the hour, cometh the man!
They say, the true mirror of a man's character is how he conducts himself when he is at the peak of his powers.
Even when he had all the bowlers in the world at his mercy, you would never find Dravid behave in any way that would be unbecoming of an idol.
He always accorded due respect to all, even when it could have seemed convenient for him to dismiss some of his lesser equals.
Even after retiring from the game, he continue to do his bit in giving back to the game, coaching the India Under-19 side, and spotting as well as honing upcoming/promising young cricketers.
The kind of person you appreciate not only for his abilities, but also for his deportment, both on and off the field.
The kind of person you can readily and unhesitatingly showcase to your children to emulate, as a role model.
To such a gem called Rahul Dravid, wish you many happy returns of the day!!
It is one thing to be a nice guy while not doing (achieving) much else in life.
As one of the Siddhuisms goes, "he is a humble person, but he has a lot to be humble about"!
Well, let's just say, Rahul Sharad Dravid is certainly a man who wears his legendary status very well.
All his accomplishments have only made him even more humble, even more endearing, and he remains a gentleman to the core.
There are many people who excel in their chosen field. Many become legends too.
Yet, it's only a handful who go on to cap their achievements with the sort of conduct that transcends them from being "excellent" to being an "idol".
A complete team man, and unflinchingly selfless, here was a guy who did all he could, sacrificing his personal comfort/preferences happily, even almost unnoticeably (if given a choice).
Team struggling on overseas conditions.
No one else ready/capable/willing to open the batting.
Need an opener?
There he was. For his team, for his country, selflessly.
Team needs to play an extra batsman in its XI? (Yeah, the pre-Dhoni era).
Sure captain, will also keep wickets, to have the extra man included in lieu of the 'keeper.
Need someone to hold one end up, winning the battle of attrition against hostile bowlers?
Sure captain, will do.
One can find batsmen at a dime a dozen, when it comes to plundering bowlers on flat tracks.
But when all others in the team are struggling to even survive, it takes the class of a Rahul Dravid to flourish and excel, consistently, time and time again, the world over.
It always needs skill as well as big match temperament to dominate Australia in Australia.
England in England.
South Africa in South Africa.
New Zealand in New Zealand.
Without any chest-beating bravado, without fuming any expletives.
By just plundering oppositions (with his bat), while still remaining a gentleman.
If our demigod - Sachin Tendulkar was the Ram of Indian cricket, I dare say Rahul Dravid was the quintessential Hanuman - the quiet, unassuming hero in his own right, happy to scale superhuman landmarks, yet stay rooted, grounded, quiet and behind-the-scenes out of his own volition.
Time and time again.
To borrow a Shastri'ism this time, cometh the hour, cometh the man!
They say, the true mirror of a man's character is how he conducts himself when he is at the peak of his powers.
Even when he had all the bowlers in the world at his mercy, you would never find Dravid behave in any way that would be unbecoming of an idol.
He always accorded due respect to all, even when it could have seemed convenient for him to dismiss some of his lesser equals.
Even after retiring from the game, he continue to do his bit in giving back to the game, coaching the India Under-19 side, and spotting as well as honing upcoming/promising young cricketers.
The kind of person you appreciate not only for his abilities, but also for his deportment, both on and off the field.
The kind of person you can readily and unhesitatingly showcase to your children to emulate, as a role model.
To such a gem called Rahul Dravid, wish you many happy returns of the day!!
