Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Great Wall is now 13,000 Bricks Strong!

Rahul Dravid acknowledges the crowd after scoring his 13,000th run
Image Courtesy: Cricinfo
My Idol Rahul Dravid completes an extraordinary milestone of 13,000 runs in Test Cricket, the second ever in the history of Test Cricket to do so. Only other player to achieve this feat is the icon Sachin Tendulkar who has scored over 15,000 runs.

Also with this innings, Dravid went past 1,000 runs this calendar year - Only player to do so this year, so far. And this is the third time Dravid has amassed 1,000 or more runs in a calendar year. The previous occasions when he achieved this feat were in 2002 and 2006.

Dravid went past 13,000 runs soon after lunch on Day 3 of the third Test against West Indies in Mumbai when he drove West Indies skipper Darren Sammy through the covers for a classic boundary, showcasing the vintage Rahul Dravid, which gave me immense joy and happiness.


Dravid has been in outstanding form this year scoring 5 centuries, two against West Indies and three against England, in England. Four out of those 5 centuries have come in very tough conditions and Dravid has delivered when the team needed the most as he always does.

The first century came in Jamaica under some extremely tough batting conditions. Dravid's century was instrumental in India winning that Test Match which helped India win that 3-Test series 1-0.

The next 3 centuries came in England again under tough batting conditions and a brilliant English bowling attack. Dravid's effort was absolutely monumental; it was a super-human performance by Dravid where every other Indian batsman failed except him. He was the only Indian batsman to score a century in that series. India suffered a humiliating 4-0 whitewash and all of Dravid's brilliant centuries in the series ended in defeats, heartbreakingly.

The 5th century this year came in this series against the West Indies in the Kolkata Test which Dravid himself described as one of the easiest centuries he has made.

Image Courtesy: Cricinfo
I was expecting Dravid to amass his 37th Test Century today but unfortunately he was bowled for a well-made 82 of the bowling of Marlon Samuels when he tried to cut the ball which was not quite there to be cut and also the ball didn't bounce as much as Dravid expected, barely clipping his off stump and knocking off the bails. Dravid was unsure and so he waited for the Third Umpire's decision where the replays showed he was indeed bowled.

Assuming Dravid might not get a chance to bat in this match again, he has one more Test Match to play until the end of this year against Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. So, I am hoping Dravid will remain the highest run scorer this year and end this year on a high in what has been a fantastic year for the batting great.

Take a bow, my Inspiration, Rahul "The Wall" Dravid.

10 comments:

  1. He is a legend and his consistency has proven that he is beyond words. A great tribute for a great man!

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  2. Thank you so much dear for your kind words. Definitely encourages me to write more often and improve. :)

    Yes, Dravid's consistency is his USP. He is still doing phenomenally well at the twilight of his career. I couldn't be more happier. :):)

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  3. Great Tribute for that wonderful cricketer by a wonderful soul.Luv it Akshay.

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  4. Thank you so much Christy :) Means a lot to me :)

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  5. Great post for a great cricketer. I hope he scores a double hundred in his next test match :)

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  6. Yeah thanks again buddy. I hope so too :):)

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  7. A great cricketer of all the times. Well written post! @Akshay! :)

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    1. Thank you so much Nandini for your kind comment. :) Yes, Rahul Dravid is an inspiration for millions, one of the greatest ever. I dearly miss him on a Cricket pitch. :(

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