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 5^th 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 37^th 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.

A Special Bond

Image Courtesy: Google Images

We may not have known each other the longest,

Nor we have known each other the best.

I knew you only as a friend of friend,

But now, you are my only friend.

My shyness has always been a hindrance in building a relationship,

But that is certainly not the case with our friendship.

You make me feel secure and comfortable with your warmth and kindness.

Our friendship blossomed towards the end of our course,

But I promise you I will maintain it till the end of my life.

You have been my strength during my worst,

I know with you by my side, I will eventually regain my best.

We may not be siblings by birth,

But you mean more to me than a sister I never had.

If I have ever hurt you, I hope never,

I pray the special bond we share remains forever.

To My Idol Rahul Dravid – A Tribute (Part 3)

Rahul Dravid gets a standing ovation from the crowd after a brilliantly crafted 69 in his final ODI innings
Image Courtesy: Cricinfo

It's exactly 9:45PM in my watch, Dravid batting at 69, realizes he needs to up the ante as only 8 overs to go. He has been trying to go for the big shots after reaching his half century but failing to middle the ball on most occasions, been edging quite a few balls. Clearly trying to get a move on and increase the scoring rate but not getting those boundaries as often as he would have liked. So this time goes on the front foot and tries to clear the mid-on boundary unselfishly as he has always been contributing not for his personal cause but for the team's cause for over 15 years, but misses the ball and it hits his stumps. My heart stopped for a moment. Rahul Dravid walks off the ground after playing his very last innings wearing the blue. He is being congratulated by his team mate Virat Kohli and all the English players for his outstanding contribution in this format of the game - such a nice gesture by the English players, showing their respect for the great man. As he walks off the ground to a standing ovation by the thousands gathered in the ground, silently tears start to stroll down my cheeks. I just couldn't control my emotions. I was witnessing my Idol wearing the Blue jersey for the very last time. He graciously acknowledges the crowd and walks off the ground. What a great end to a stellar innings and a brilliant career. 

I just hope that our bowlers would at least be able to defend a competitive score of 304 and win this match. Dravid deserves a good send-off. He has been humiliated, insulted, disrespected and used in the past. But a great player like Dravid deserves a nice send-off. Hopefully we can finally come together as a unit and win our first match in what has been a dismal tour and end this tour on a high. Hopefully three hours from now, tears would be strolling down my cheeks again and I just hope those tears would be happy tears. (If weather gods permit, that is. I am optimistic, let's hope for the best for Dravid's sake at least).

Rahul Dravid, one of the greatest Cricketers to have ever played the game, an absolute Legend, My Idol, My Inspiration. I will surely miss you not wearing the blue jersey and playing for India again as will millions of your fans and well wishers. Thank You for all the wonderful memories. I will always cherish them.

To My Idol Rahul Dravid – A Tribute (Part 2)

Rahul Dravid opens his account by fending away a short ball.
Image Courtesy: Cricinfo

My Idol Rahul Dravid walks out to bat on his T20I debut which also happens to be his last as I type this. My excitement has reached a whole new level and my happiness has no bounds. I finally see my idol wearing the Blue again after two years.

He looks a bit tentative but has nothing to lose, hence he can bat without any inhibitions and my only wish would be for him to make a rock solid half century which would result in a win for us or a quick fire 30 or a 40 would also make me happy. Hell, I wouldn’t even mind us losing this match if Dravid scores a century. Well, that would be a dream send off, wouldn’t it?

Currently he’s scored 8 of 12 balls, not bad. Dravid lofts one straight down the ground, falls safely. Phew. Meanwhile the other debutant Ajinkya Rahane has just reached his half century. Kudos to him, he might be the next big hope for Indian Cricket.

But the best moment of the day was yet to arrive and it finally did when Dravid smashed 3 humongous sixes in a row of the bowling of Samit Patel. It was the greatest sight in the world, I wish I could’ve been there live in the stadium to watch it but still those 3 sixes by my Idol just made my year.

For the first one, Dravid cleared his front leg to whack the ball high over long-on. It was around quarter past 11PM here and my scream was so loud after the first six, I might have woken up a few neighbors unless they were also watching this absolute spectacle and screaming with me.

And then it got better. The next delivery, Rahul danced down the wicket, he chose the long-on region again, it had enough legs to clear the boundary for another six. My screams got even louder. I was feeling like a teenager all over again.

And then it got even better for the third one. The final delivery of the over culminated when Rahul swept the ball high over the square-leg boundary for a humongous six. The best six of the three and I literally went crazy at this point. My screams were at its loudest and my happiness had no bounds.

My idol again did what he does best, silently contributing to the team unselfishly when it needs the most. Only this time he is going out making a loud thud!

Dravid's Twenty20 international batting career lasted 21 deliveries in 23 minutes scoring 31 runs with a strike rate of 147.61, a truly unforgettable innings.

By this innings Dravid again showed what playing for India really means to him. Even though he doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone, still this innings will be a slap on everyone’s faces who doubted his abilities in the shorter formats of the game.

Today has undoubtedly been one of the happiest days of the year for me, if not the happiest. I will cherish each and every moment of my Idol’s farewell ODI series.

Well played Rahul. You will forever be my Idol and my Inspiration. Thank You.