Remember the TITAN

The Lord’s match was expected to be an explosion of statistics – 2000^th test match, 100^th between India and England and the long expected 100^th 100 by the God of cricket. But as is usual with gods, disappointment was doled out instead of deliverance.

What no one remembered was that Rahul Dravid was set to become the 2^nd highest run scorer in the history of the game. As is the way with his centuries and fifties, Dravid reached this landmark in his unassuming style. He is also on way to surpassing (or at least equalling) Gavaskar to clinch 2^nd highest number of centuries for India if his love for British conditions is anything to go by.

Sadly he is unlikely to go further than this 2^nd highest landmarks. Because at top, sits the God. Dravid will never replace Him, nor will he ever become a God in his own right. He was chosen by destiny to be something more important – a Titan!

Like Titans, his achievements are overshadowed by those of the God. Like Titans, his myth for a few aficionados while the God is worshipped by all and sundry.

Like Atlas he is called upon to shoulder the weight that no one else wants – weight of a crumbling top order, weight of wicket keeping, weight of being a stand-in opener. Like Sisyphus he puts all his effort to roll the boulder of Indian batting uphill by day and as soon as he turns his back the boulder comes tumbling back. Most unfortunate of all like Prometheus, despite his numerous contributions, vultures come after his flesh every time he scores less than fifty.

Worship your God all you want, but remember the Titan!!

The one who cannot be bullied with short balls and who will not bend his knees against insurmountable totals. The one who will dig his heels and fight till the last ball or last wicket remains at the other end. The one who will stand tall when all else succumbs!

Remember the Titan!

Statistic Bite – While Sachin has scored more runs and more centuries than Dravid, chew on this – of the 32 times that Dravid had scored a century before this match, India has lost only 1. 11 of Sachin’s 51 centuries were in matches that India lost.