Dravid takes the long handle during an ODI in and against England
Just at a time when all Cricket experts thought that Rahul Dravid's ODI career was almost coming to an end,the National Selectors made a sheet of 30 probables for the Champions Trophy to be held in the Rainbow Nation.
The last name you would think would be there was right there."RAHUL SHARAD DRAVID".
One of the three most revolutionary names in Indian Cricket.
Dravid is a cricketer who has gained great amonut of respect where ever he has gone or whom so ever he has met.Dravid last played an ODI match in 2007 aginst Australia at home.But due to his bad run was left out after that without even being given an oppurtunity after that.
But I think after seeing the horrible batting display by th Indian middle order batsmen,the Selectors must have thought of bringing some experience to steady the ship.
Rahul Dravid according to me unquestionably deserves a place in that ODI playing XI.He is one of the very few Batsmen in that elite group of players with 10,000 runs or more(P.S. Dravid acheived the 10,00 run mark in ODIs before acheiving in longest format of the game).He is a man who has always faced challenges and loves doing so. At a time when India had no quality Wicket-Keeper- Batsman and players like Alec Stewart, Adam Gilchrist and Mark Boucher were ruling the scenes,Rahul Dravid volunteered in keeping wickets for India, an art he had never done before and he did not know the head to toe of.But Dravid being the man he is fought against all odds and emerged succesfull in keeping wickets until Parthiv Patel found himself a place in the side.
The Champions Trophy being on bouncy South African pitches, and Dravid by far the best player of the short ball in India.His advice to the youngsters will be invaluable.And plus Dravid had an outstanding IPL which just recently concluded in South Africa.
I would like to share a small anecdote about Dravid which very few people know about.Rahul Dravid in his early part of his career was named as a "slow player" and not fit to play one day cricket. To shut all his critics up and prove himself in the one day arena, Dravid being an international cricketer came and played local club leagues for local clubs and worked on his game after which he came back confident, bigger and much better.
