Desh Gaurav Chopra Sekhri: The straight bat of history

When a sad but dignified Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket, it struck a chord with all who were privileged enough to have witnessed the career of a class act, and one of the greatest sportspersons that India, and even the world, has seen. Dravid was, and is, a fierce competitor on the pitch, defined as much by his grittiness and fierce competitiveness as by his polished and calm exterior.  

Dravid’s impact on the game extends beyond his contributions as an iconic player. Commercially, he was at the forefront of the intelligent use of sportspersons as brands as the market exploded in the last decade. But it was culturally, perhaps, that his influence was greatest — and may be sustained beyond his retirement. He is perhaps the most refined and articulate spokesperson for the game, and for the value of sport as a national cultural touchstone — as well as for the outsize personalities of this once-in-a-lifetime generation of great cricketers in the Indian jersey.

His ability to convey a powerful message about the values of the game and place it perfectly in its context in India was most recently on display when he was the first non-Australian to deliver the Bradman Oration earlier this season. The humility and clarity with which he conveyed the reality of Indian cricket and how it reflected the changes sweeping the country left more of an impression than any on-pitch extravaganza or record-breaking achievement. And Dravid is no stranger to recognition or to records.

Dravid’s style was always understated, in an era in which the game he played was moving in the opposite direction, on-field and off. Yet he was one of those very understated achievers who nevertheless manage to be a role model for millions and a runaway branding success. He is so understated, in fact, that his name doesn’t always make it to the list of greatest cricketers of this generation, let alone of all time. A glaring omission, given that he is the second-highest Test run-getter ever, and the sixth highest one-day international (ODI) run-getter. And he reflects India’s global ambitions perfectly: he has scored a century in each of the ten Rest-playing nations, a feat in, and of, itself given the Indian team’s continuing inability to make a consistent impression on foreign soil.

His reputation off the field is as pure as his straight-batted follow-through on a defensive stroke. Nobody questions his class as a man who has never clamoured for attention. For a country that needs leaders who show they can work in a team, how he dealt with constantly being overshadowed by the feats of his peers was revelatory. There was an unfortunate consistency to his best performances, serving as supports for superhuman acts by his fellow teammates. At debut, at Lord’s in 1996, his battling 95 was deafened by a roaring Bengal Tiger’s debut century. During the Eden Gardens miracle against the rampaging Australians, Dravid’s performance was reduced to mere wingman status by VVS’ titanic 281 — although his competitiveness was on full display, as he defiantly raised his bat to the media booth that had been somewhat harsh on him in the build-up to the epic series. And these are but a few examples, not that Dravid would complain.

For a country increasingly focused on individual glory at all costs, here was an icon who insisted, quietly, on “taking one for the team”. He always put the team first — keeping wickets in ODIs, so as to free up the roster for an additional specialist, playing the role of sheet-anchor despite disgruntlement as to his slightly less explosive stroke-play. The latter, especially, is an unfair dig, given his ability to adapt to the state of play, and his ability to modify his natural game for the greater good of the team.  

Unsurprisingly, as a rare combination of personality, marketability, achievement, and role-model-worthy values, he is a dream brand ambassador for numerous consumer product and services brands. And this is a fact that didn’t go unnoticed, especially since he was never a polarising or controversial figure. His brand endorsements featured a diverse array of sponsors. From insurance to banks, from Pepsi, Reebok and Citizen Watches to Karnataka Tourism, he more or less covered the entire gamut of branding possibilities.

Dravid’s career as a batsman and fielder may be over. His impact is only beginning to be felt. India’s cricket fans, in the years to come, will look back and wonder ever more at the unique combination of stability, calmness, talent and determination that he brought to the national team at a time of great change.

The author is a sports attorney at J Sagar Associates.
These views are personal