Speed Chess
Indian Cricket is like speed chess played with blindfolds, getting directions from a parrot on the table, that prods your finger in placing your pieces. And in this absurd game, there are many casualties but never had one thought that the peerless Rahul Dravid would be one. Peerless I say and peerless I mean. It is a word chosen carefully because if we were to look back into the history of Indian cricket, from its fledgling years with the aristocracy holding sway all the way till today's egalitarian team, we will not find a cricketer such as him. Sachin will always be India's greatest ever cricketer and Ganguly will always be the "maharaj" from Bengal. The Gavaskars and Bedis and Prasannas, the Solkars and Contractors, the Vishys and Devs are legends and will remain so.
But none of the above without exception has led India with the grace & dignity this man has done. None has been wicket keeper / opening bat / middle order bat/ number 3/Captain as this man has been. And beyond everything else, India has not had a more accomplished batsman in its entire cricketing history: one who could play on any surface, in any conditions, with a matchless technique and strokeplay to delight even the members of the MCC in the early 1900's.
Eulogies can wait however. He is far from done. He has just ground out another first class ton against Mumbai. Its all well now that India is playing a depleted Pakistan side at home. Come December, the tour that no team has been able to scale confronts India. RD is sure to be back at his customary no. 3 position at the MCG and for all our sakes, I hope he's in the form of his life because heaven knows we'll need him to be. As for the ODIs, after the tests in Australia, Vengsarkar and his band of morons may well see things differently. And the blindfold may just fall down as it tends to happen from time to time.
But none of the above without exception has led India with the grace & dignity this man has done. None has been wicket keeper / opening bat / middle order bat/ number 3/Captain as this man has been. And beyond everything else, India has not had a more accomplished batsman in its entire cricketing history: one who could play on any surface, in any conditions, with a matchless technique and strokeplay to delight even the members of the MCC in the early 1900's.
Eulogies can wait however. He is far from done. He has just ground out another first class ton against Mumbai. Its all well now that India is playing a depleted Pakistan side at home. Come December, the tour that no team has been able to scale confronts India. RD is sure to be back at his customary no. 3 position at the MCG and for all our sakes, I hope he's in the form of his life because heaven knows we'll need him to be. As for the ODIs, after the tests in Australia, Vengsarkar and his band of morons may well see things differently. And the blindfold may just fall down as it tends to happen from time to time.
Labels: Dravid