Cricket bids farewell to one of its all-time greats

October 6, 2013 will surely be marked as a remarkable day in the calendar of Indian cricket; not for any triumph; neither for any historical event, but for Rahul Dravid-the loyal servant of Indian cricket for years. It was the last instance that fans could witness ‘The Wall’ taking guard in the 22 yards.

Dravid, even on his last professional appearance, came out to bat in a critical situation with his side, Rajasthan Royals, on the verge of losing the final, having already lost 6 wickets chasing Mumbai’s mammoth total of 202. Dravid failed. He could not save his team from losing the match much to the despair of not only the Rajasthan supporters but all across the globe who wanted Jammy to perform with the bat. However this failure can never minimize what Jammy has achieved throughout his career. What he has given to world cricket.

Since his debut in Indian outfit at Lord’s in 1996, Rahul Dravid has always been the man on whom India could depend. He was man for all situations. On innumerable occasions he took India to safety from the jaws of defeat. Dravid reached the peak of his career during the early 2000s when he showed great consistency with the bat in tests as well as in the 50-over format. His performance against Australia in Australia in 2003-04 series is surely the highlight of his career. His contribution against Pakistan in 2004 enabled India to win a series away from home after 11 years which was also India’s first series win in Pakistan. As the captain of the Indian team, he led India to series wins against West Indies and England away from home.

Besides a world-class batsman Rahul Dravid has always been a brilliant catcher in the slips. He holds the record for most number of catches taken by any player without being a wicket-keeper in the history of test match cricket.

Rahul Dravid has become an iconic figure-a role model. He has carved a niche for himself in the history of cricket with his sound technique and extra-ordinary craftsmanship. India will miss Rahul Dravid. The whole cricketing world will miss Rahul Dravid. A person who has always put his country ahead of personal achievement. A true performer. A true legend.

• About the Author

About Argha Ghosh

An ardent follower of sports and die-hard Manchester United fan, Argha's ultimate dream is to watch a Manchester derby from the Stretford End at the Old Trafford.