Appreciation of Rahul Dravid

"Written in Mar 04 when Dravid was the best indian batsman"

If Sachin Tendulkar has mastered the art of playing the ball, Rahul Dravid has mastered the art of not playing the ball, which is equally important in the longer version of the game. Rahul Dravid bats time and awfully long time at that. Looked in isolation the value of that is not obvious but once you illuminate it with the light of three abroad wins in past couple of years there is not much left to explain. Yes there is no doubting the fact that Dravid is currently not only the best Indian batsmen but also the best all over. For my criteria for best is elementary, ability to win important matches. No one else has done that more often than Dravid in contemporary times.  No other batsman plays the ball purely on its merit as much as He does. Memories of past and dreams of what future holds do not faze the concentration of Rahul as he takes strike. If he is beaten on a ball, that is tucked in some remote corner of his brain to be analysed later, a deficiency to be eliminated but not something to bother him now. He lives in the moment and that’s why he seizes the important ones. This above all is his greatest virtue. What is not mentioned often is that Dravid in flow is also a beautiful batsman to watch unlike say Kirsten who played a similar role. But we must also realise that a reason Dravid has prospered is that he has exciting strokeplayers all around him to enable the team manage a healthy run rate inspite of his reticence. And Dravid would be the first to admit that.