It’s time for me to pause: Dravid

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If you look closely enough at Indian cricket right now, you are sure to spot a yawning void. The void’s name is Rahul Dravid.

If Sir Vivian Richards, with his swagger and ferocity is the king of cricket and Brian Lara, with his devastating flair, is one of the princes, then the steadfast, dignified Dravid is surely the game’s proud general. A scholarly warrior.
Over a career spanning 16 years, Dravid built a reputation of being one of the most technically gifted batsmen of all time whose unshakable defence and rock-solid batting style have reduced many a gifted bowler to frustrated wrecks.
But as the saying goes, all good things had to come to an end and so it was with Dravid’s glittering career. After calling time on his blemish-free career, Dravid walked away the same way he entered the game — with his head held high.
Now, post-retirement Dravid is a happy man who has all the time in the world for his friends, family and varied interests. However, Dravid says the feeling of retirement has yet to sink in. “It’s only been about six weeks since the IPL,” said Dravid, who was in Hyderabad to take part in the celebrity race at the annual Monsoon Regatta. “I’ve spent quite a bit of time at home. I travelled a bit. But it hasn’t been long enough to experience any withdrawal symptoms. It’s like a short break for me… I think I’ll revisit this question six months or a year from now,” he added.
For a professional sportsperson, retirement can be quite unnerving. It is akin to shifting from the fourth gear directly to first. It can be quite jarring if one doesn’t know how to handle it. Fortunately, Dravid says he’s never had to face that problem. “It’s simple, really,” explains Dravid, before making a self-deprecatory statement. “I was never in the fourth gear (laughs).”
On a more serious note, he added, “It (retirement) was not something I had decided one fine morning. I had been thinking about it for a while. This is something a cricketer tends to do when he reaches my age. So I had been planning for it.”
On going sailing on the Hussainsagar, Dravid said, “It was a wonderful experience, something I’m not quite used to. It was really nice to see such young kids take to sailing with such enthusiasm. I’ve been out on a sailboat before, in Australia. But this is the first time I have gone sailing in India.”
Dravid has always shared a special bond with Hyderabad, having played some of his best innings in the City of Pearls. “I’ve always had a great time here. I’ve been coming here ever since I was young. I’ve played some of my best knocks here. I enjoyed playing at all the grounds — the Gymkhana, the Lal Bahadur Stadium and even the Uppal stadium. I love coming to Hyderabad and playing here.”
When asked about his immediate plans for the future, Dravid said, “I’ve been on the road a lot over the last few years. It’s time for me to pause and let my family catch up with me.”