New Delhi, Oct 10: Rahul Dravid. Boring. Slow. Channel-turner. That was yesterday. Today Rahul is the stylish hero, adored by a huge fan inventory that piled up after Sachin Tendulkar got out for a low score. If Sachin's fans have become Dravid converts, even for a day, it means a lot. Dravid has grabbed the limelight. That's what a double century can do to your career and image. Today's 222 was Rahul's highest score, putting him one short of Gavaskar (4 double tons) and one ahead of Sachin (2 double tons). Of course, Gavaskar's tons were all against the fearsome West Indian speedsters. Rahul's, on the other hand, were against less ferocious attacks. But what makes 29-year-old Dravid unique is technique and temperament. He's banking on both to lengthen and strengthen his career. But before we drool over Dravid, let's dip into a little controversy. Is Dravid technically superior to Sachin? He has a straight bat, and can work wonders with it as we have seen in Ahmedabad over that last two days. He's tired of being called a bore. He's is defying boredom and the boundary, and he's doing that with what comes natural to him: style.
Is Dravid Karnataka's best? Probably yes, although Dravid himself would not like to admit it. He's in awe of another great: Gundappa Vishwanath. Like Gundappa, Dravid, too, is now adept at mixing timing, technique, power, and improvisation.
Is Dravid a match-winner? We have heard Imran Khan on the subject. Fortunately, he hasn't said anything about Dravid. In fact, without Dravid, VVS Laxman would not have become a kangaroo-killer. It was Dravid, who built a patient 180, that helped Laxman make a record 281 and swat Steve Waugh's strongmen. Even if he did not get equal honours in that win, Dravid was out to prove that he was no backroom boy. He would become the backroom macho and gradually walk out of the room too.
And he walked out in style from the backroom at Motera sending the Kiwis aflutter. He's now out in the open, hungry for fame and determined to be India's best.
That's the challenge that Dravid poses to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Once the Kiwi are polished and the Kangaroos whacked, there will be just one question on everyone's mind: who's India best bat today? Is it Sachin, Sourav, or Rahul?