Another Brick from The Wall

Rahul Dravid recently notched up his 33rd and 1st hundred at Lord’s. However, once again like on most other occasions, it was overshadowed by the fact that Tendulkar was lining up for his hundredth 100 and also because in the end he was the lone solder (with Laxman and Raina in the end) fighting in the eventual Indian defeat.

A brilliant 95 had gone unheard and unseen in Ganguly's gorgeous 120, both of whom debuted in the same game at Lord's.

An outstanding '99 World Cup went in vain and forgotten post India's exit (effectively from Zimbabwe's hands).

His supreme ODI knocks that came in that World Cup also took a backseat because Tendulkar and Ganguly too scored in those respective matches.

The unforgettable stand between Laxman and him will always highlight Laxman's brilliant 280.

His extra effort for the team by playing a keeper (with a batting average of ~44.25 in 70+ matches is probably the best for an Indian keeper after MSD) even in the '03 World Cup to allow India another batsmen/bowler, was sadly overshadowed by he not being good enough for the format (even though he was brisk during this phase and not bad overall either).

His brilliance in both innings at Adelaide were marred by the fact that we couldn't win the series when we had a good chance.

While he was still good with the bat, he was dropped post the 2007 World Cup, despite playing a super innings in a game where almost everyone else failed.

The first (and still probably the only) batsmen to have scored a 100 against all test teams, Rahul ‘The Wall Dravid’ has stood tall and conquered them all. 

Rahul Dravid stands at being the worlds second highest run getter and the worlds highest run getting in the fourth innings.

While most other big-named batsmen have opted and put their foot down on where they would be batting (and not changing their batting position for the team’s sake), the conventionally one-down Rahul Dravid has done it all – opening, middle order and lower middle order depending on the situation and preference and form of other players. 

The list can go on!

Yet today, with all those marathon innings and desperate saves, he doesn’t find a mention in anyone’s list of a Test Dream Team 11. While stats are a great way to say how an individual has done, they are never able to speak how much an individual has helped his team and other individuals. Yes, Dravid has been guilty of some ‘boring’ batting where he scored a 30 of 100 balls and worse, got out thereafter. However, what’s probably missed are the times that ‘boring’ batting, which may have started at 10/1, have been solid defence shielding the batting to come.

Very quietly, Rahul Dravid has simply gone about doing his job for the past 15 years; away from all controversies but also away from most of the limelight!

And that's the sad part – which is probably why he is not adored as much as he should!