Dravid..the man who made India believe..!

Rahul Dravid finally calls it a day from One-Day Internationals. My only memory of being absolutely in love with someone is this man. Call me star-struck, but I never have rated anyone above him. His game, his style, his way of talking and the ability to remain calm and composed in the worst of all situations and I think I can go on endlessly. I must have been an eight-year-old when I first saw him play, and ever since there was not anyone whom I have liked better.

I still have a treasured scrapbook, which has all the possible pictures and newspaper cuttings of Dravid's articles, ads and those cricket cards we used to get in packets of chips. 4th May 2003 was a teary day in my life, being one out of many women who thought Dravid was the true love of my life. (That is the day he married Vijeta Pendharkar -- one lucky woman!)

Ups, downs and those quite phases - Dravid has seen it all, heard it all. Nevertheless, he stood there strong playing his game, his way and simply be himself. Many found his way too traditional to be acceptable in today's world. Many wrote him off much before his time. However, Dravid silently stood his ground, played his game, worked hard and kept himself in the game.

I remember that disastrous World Cup tour in 2007 after which everyone called him names, blamed him for the embarrassment that India faced. The man remained calm, not because he could not answer but because silence is always the stronger man's weapon. Hailed as 'The Wall' of Team India, Dravid has always been a team man; someone who has performed when nothing else worked. His records do the talking. As much of a cliché as it may sound, Dravid is indeed the unsung hero of our times.

Devendra Prabhudesai aptly named his book on Dravid 'The Nice Guy Who Finished First'. Dravid has always had an aura of being the nice guy around. Someone who would never say no, someone who would have that warm smile even on the worst of days. Seldom have we seen an animated Dravid but one memory of an elated Dravid will remain embedded in every fan's memory when he jumped with joy after getting his double century against Australia.

It is a fitting farewell for Dravid as it ends where it all began. Dravid will be seen in the Indian blues for the last time today playing against England. He made his Test debut against England in 1996 at Lord's. A memorable debut it was, he scored a spirited 95. Dravid had made a place for himself in the world of cricket for eternity.

As a fan it gets increasingly difficult for me to imagine the game being played without Dravid, it's an end of an era. The good part, however, is that with his formidable form, we can always be assured of a lot of good Test cricket left in him. Dravid will forever remain the shy guy who stood tall amongst his peers and performed for India in the most difficult of times.