Opinion Leaning against the Wall

To be fair,the BCCI,at its recent annual general meeting,had shown the intent to sign on the retired stalwart as the hands-on floor manager for its assembly line in Bangalore and its nationwide feeder centres. Then came the court cases,probe panels,Haroon Lorgat and Tendulkar’s afternoon phone call. Understandably,the BCCI was preoccupied. Thus,here’s a nudging reminder to seal the Dravid deal.

For once,the board shouldn’t drag its feet. Not only because Dravid is tailor-made for a coaching/ mentoring role,but also because others around the world know this fact. Andy Flower is to quit as England’s team director this winter. Sri Lanka is looking for a coach. The Australian and South African teams are struggling with unsettled support staff after high-profile departures. So,when Dravid walked back to the dressing room for that final time last Sunday in New Delhi,the game’s global head hunters would have taken notice. Cynics might call the fear of losing Dravid paranoia. Understandably so,since former Indian players have historically,at best,landed coaching jobs in second divisions (remember Sandeep Patil in Kenya?) or are found guarding cricket’s outposts as part of the ICC’s “spread the game” initiatives. Dravid,though,is different from the players of the past era and he isn’t even similar to his peers. Arguably the most effective batsman in alien conditions,he hasn’t let geographical boundaries confine his cricketing growth. In many ways,he is one of a kind.

Like always,it is not the talking heads on TV but less famous voices that best describe the real Dravid. A close friend of mine from college summed up the methodical man beautifully. “Maybe he is the only man in the world who folds crumpled clothes meticulously in neat bundles before giving them for ironing,” he said. A team mate at Kent,where the India No 3 had a stint in 2000,gave an unusual reason for Dravid’s very un-Indian,intimidating away-batting figures. “Perhaps because,unlike other Indians who travel abroad,he didn’t go looking for an Indian curry place in the evening. He ate with us most times,” says he.

This statement from an unabashed Dravid fan wouldn’t stand up to strict statistical scrutiny. Dravid’s worthy team mates,with a known aversion for bland meals,were also

dedicated professionals

who matched Dravid’s formidable feats and figures in both home and away games. But the voice from Kent helps one

understand the man,who walked the extra block,not

always to find authentic Balti chicken,but to explore and

unravel the mysteries of succeeding in alien conditions.

During the 2011 tour of England,India travelled to Kent for a side game. Within minutes of the team checking into the dressing room,the heavens opened. For Dravid,it was a god-sent opportunity to catch up with old friends at a ground that had been his backyard for an entire season. Several of Dravid’s former team mates and some club members had driven to the St Lawrence ground for a trip down memory lane. Sourav Ganguly,Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman had also done the county stint,but they didn’t take to the English air as Dravid did.

It isn’t just England that values Dravid’s cricket and his words. A couple of years back,he became the first non-Australian to deliver the Bradman Oration. The applause at the end of his speech enhanced his reputation as an articulate orator and a true thinker of the game. Here was someone who could show the ICC the right direction,a man who could clearly be handed the reins of a troubled team.

But before those opportunities arise,India needs to grab Dravid. All through his playing career,he has been silently patting backs,sharing tips and suggesting changes while interacting with youngsters around the country. Once,at Rajkot,long before Cheteshwar Pujara became a household name,Dravid had quietly suggested to the Saurashtra coach to play the boy with the insatiable appetite for runs at No 3. The fact that Pujara could one day replace him didn’t come in the way of giving the right advice. His namesake and the present India under-23 opener,K.L. Rahul,has spoken about the “call anytime” privilege extended by Dravid. With the Rajasthan Royals,too,he was a captain the juniors loved and the seniors respected.

It’s a no-brainer: the BCCI needs to quickly sign the batsman whose second innings average is better than his 50-plus in the first innings.

sandeep.dwivedi@expressindia.com