An open letter to India U19 Coach Mr Rahul Dravid

Hello, Dear Mr Rahul Dravid,

Subject: Modesty and humility has been the signature of The Wall

I am writing this letter right from the basement just to mention that there are plenty of youngsters who want to train under your watchful eyes and the one who has done incredibly great things for the Indian cricket.

Since you made your international debut way back in 1996 against Sri Lanka at Singapore which contributed to cricket plenty in the past, has further been a riveting journey for a batting delight from Indore.

I had also the knack of penning down the scorecard which further led me to finish my notebook and credit must go to you for enjoying the time at the crease when it came to the winning ends against top-quality teams in the yesteryears.

With 16 years of international cricket is no more a mean feat, you have been the bedrock of Indian cricket as a leader in many ways and occasional blip didn’t bog you down.

I’ve been watching you and it was definitely a treat to watch particularly in the Test fold while settling with the average of 52.31.

You have been an inspiration for the youngsters and the latest example came in the form of a Youth ODI World Cup title in New Zealand against Australian colts which was the sweetest one for the role model of the younger generation like you.

Human is an err, so are we, however, the way you have shouldered the responsibility to nurse the raw talent has been fascinating, to say the least, and you deserve standing ovation akin you walked off the ground for the final time.

It’s relatively a magnanimous testimony the way you have worked alongside such rising superstars while believing the young champions has the massive ability — to grab the eyeballs in the top-flight cricket for exceptional performances.

Talking about your persona its has been exemplary the way you told your wards to stay grounded after lifting the fourth overall title during the recently-concluded 12th edition of the ICC World Cup on Kiwis shores.

We have had stuck to-dos and don’ts and you have been such a dignity who delivered with the bat before inspiring many with your well-articulated speeches and no fuss whatsoever.

Talking about the modern-day cricket it has been fast and equally dull at times but the way you’ve held things has been the burgeoning example for the cricketing world while taking the young exciting bunch into consideration.

Expressing the gratitude you have been elegant and elusive with the bat while facing the bowlers.

So much so, you have made bowlers toil hard who not only bowled at pace but were impeccable when it came to the line and length.

What you have done as a true gentleman is highly appreciated when most of the professionals opted for the lucrative contracts in such a saturated field.

The simple sample of approach towards cricket has been riveting and your autobiography could leave a significant impact on many when it comes to the principles of the life as a family member after serving the country through thick and the thin.

There have been many who took pride in witnessing their favourite players – to deliver and consider such milestones their own but when it comes to the nation such narrative certainly changed into the one voice to entertain that cricket has been the major fascination of cricket in nutshell.

There have been many around who have witnessed different generations let’s say at the outset about legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Sir Donald Bradman who have disseminated top-notch bowling attacks before the emergence of the modern poster boy of contemporary cricket Virat Kohli.

It’s not the time to target your flaws; it’s the time to cherish your every ton, your milestones and your humility has been epitome to it which was visible when you lifted the coveted trophy while posing for the memorable photograph.

It’s indeed a high time for rest of the Boards to think about such cricketing giants who could deliver at their level as a coaching like Rahul Sharad Dravid has been doing since past three years for India Under-19 in particular.

You have believed in chalking out the plans and that has subsequently paid off in the style which further saw your footwork was the highlight of your career.

In your latest briefing you didn’t take away any credit by staying everyone has put their effort off the field to make it happen says itself a lot about you.

You are the true leader who believed in old school to make it happen in the new age and thank you for being ever-reliable as a batsman in particular.

You’re now 45 and 26-day old and little over six years before we saw you talking a long way back from the Adelaide stadium to bid adieu, but only as a middle-order batsman and 2018 has been described his will and aim to walk alongside future stars of Indian cricket.

Known as The Wall and you had that knack to wear down the bowlers such has been your class. The form is said to be temporary which has been proven at the time but the way you evolved yourself into the cricketing fold, has set an example for the next generation.

You had the knack of watching the ball literally under the microscope which paid the rich dividends as you turned out to be the master in the gentleman’s game when you happened to hold the bat and eventually made your wards practice hard in Christchurch and it has further turned to be the magicwandt that did wonders for the Indian colts under the guidance of Dravid.

I haven’t been familiar with much of the adjectives but you have been down-to-earth, defensive, dedicated and darling Dravid.

I’m looking forward to seeing you continue your services for the youngsters. Thank you for rendering your services with the positive attitude.

Your amassed 13,288 runs in Test fold, 10889 runs in ODI format which subsequently saw you being at the perfectionist in your own way.

Thank you for your 164 Tests, 244 ODIs, and a solitary T20I before backing the youngsters at a real level.

Hopefully, the point has been made for the classical and methodical batsman in his own way who has subsequently been an everyday superstar for the young champions.

Thank you, Dravid for the much-awaited glory.

Read more here: U-19 World Cup 2018: We Even Forced Dravid Sir to Dance: Shubman Gill