Dear Mr. Dravid,
I know you must be getting tons of messages and letters after you announced your retirement from International Cricket. Well here is one more from an avid fan and admirer of yours. I guess I became fan of Rahul Dravid first and cricket later (this phenomenon became common for girls post the entry of a certain gentleman named M.S. Dhoni). Anyway, I just wanted to say, I, like a lot of other Indians respect your decision to retire and as you said to ‘move on’.
Newspapers are now filled with your achievements and records. But records can be and are meant to be broken, what will stay is your greatness within our minds. I think you were the original Mr. Cool of Indian cricket team. I mean which other ‘star cricketer’ can pull off the nickname ‘Jammy’ as effortlessly? I guess that is why you had such a loyal fan following, you were so calm and composed both on and off field. Your fame was not as short-lived as a T-20 match.
While we all admire the young guns of our cricket team, there is something missing… something which players like you, Kumble, Srinath, and Laxman brought to the game. You guys made us believe that cricket truly is a gentleman’s game. We know you do not like being called ‘The Wall’ of the team, but you really were the wall! It might be entertaining to watch batsman hit 4’s and 6’s in every over, but I liked your technique of attacking opposite team’s mind. You challenged the popular belief that a defensive batsman can only be successful in Test cricket.
It is true that with changing times, the game changes. Cricket is no exception to this rule. But right now our team needs a Wall, someone as dependable as you. Someone who knows how to handle success (post the CWC win, our team sure could have done with some success handling tips!), someone who can keep his cool in every situation, someone who knows that instant fame will never help in building a long lasting career, and someone who keeps the team discussions to the dressing room and not make them public!
You have made the country proud on so many occasions. Your game, the way you carried yourself in public, your speech at Sir Don Bradman Oration, how you avoided controversies on and off field, your amazing technique, and last but of course not the least- you retirement! You have managed to do, what Kapil Dev said a few days back- A player should retire at his peak and on his own terms.
We will miss seeing you on field!
Sincerely,
One of your billion…nay…zillion fans
