Sunday, November 20, 2005

Praising Rahul Dravid

I have been a huge admirer of Rahul Dravid since very long now, so much so that i have always counted him as the best batsman in the Test cricket arena, giving Sachin the crown only for the one-day variety of the game. But the praises showered on Rahul Dravid these days is bordering on stupidity and i see yet another making of a scape goat ableit for the far future. As soon as Sehwag takes a wicket(1st ODI vs Sri Lanka) in his very first over, Ravi Shastri comments that Rahul is 'The Right Captain' for India because Saurav had always under-utilized the part-time bowlers. Maybe true. But what makes Mr. Shastri believe that Rahul is going to use them more in his tenure as the captain? it was just the first over of the very first non-regular bowler!! why can't he wait another 2-3 years and then make the comment when he might have sufficient basis to make it? he refuses to act smarter. and so does so many others. forget about the general Indian fans and the media. Indian coach Greg Chappell just declared that 'Dravid will become the best captain for India.' why speculate? what are Dravid's achievements as a captain in his short tenure so far when compared to Pataudi, Azharauddin, or Saurav to name just a few? he may indeed surpass them all in time to come, and being an admirer of Rahul Dravid as a player as well as a person, i can only wish that he indeed does so. who won't be happy for that? but why speculate now, when he is barely in his second series as a (permanent) captain? this is not smart stuff at all. over-praising or pampering may not be undesirable, but praising for wrong and absolutely ridiculous reasons definitely is.