New Delhi: The best that Australia's 2001 Test tour to India reminds us of is the unthinkable that Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman accomplished in the Kolkata Test, which the Aussies lost after enforcing a follow-on. But while Laxman helped India win the final Test at Colombo nine years later with a masterly century on Saturday, Dravid has been left to introspect what he needs to do in order to keep his place in the Test XI.
Dravid – who is one of India's 'Fab Four', apart from Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman – made 180 during that knock in 2001 and has it one of the most cherished memory of a splendid career that is well into its twilight now. Continue reading below
For almost a decade, the Karnataka player was regarded as a technician at work, with impeccable defence and a consistency, especially on the foreign soil, that wasn't matched by many. The only questionable aspect of his game was his ability, or the lack of it, to mold himself for the limited-over format and that's where he came in for some criticism.
To his credit, Dravid took the bitter criticism sportingly and came back stronger to command a place in the ODIs, although he had to fine-tune his wicketkeeping skills to create space for himself. But the cricket practitioner defied all odds and mastered the one-day format as well, which finds evidence in the fact that he went on to captain India in both Test cricket and ODIs.
He took cue from Sachin Tendulkar and distanced himself from the ultra-limited version, T20, stating he needs to make way for youngsters at the highest level. Subsequently, the selectors overlooked him for the ODIs as well since the Rainas, Yuvrajs and Gambhirs brought talents that would help them walk into any team of the world.
It seems time has come now where Dravid has to look at the big picture. He needs to dig up deep into his mind and find out what's best for him at this moment. One thing that Dravid too would know is that there is no point in prolonging a career, which would only tarnish his consistent and respectable tenure. And only Dravid would know if he still has it in him to remain perched at the peak that he built for himself or is it time for him to hang his boots.
Dravid would be best advised to look at some of his predecessors who tried to prolong their careers and in the end had to leave with an ‘unwanted’ tag, thereby diminishing the shine of their glittering careers.
Having said that, we can't take anything away from what Dravid has done for India in a career spread well over a decade. Only thing that his fans want from him is that whenever he calls it a day, people remember him as 'The Wall' of India.
