Mumbai, March 10: They say time flies. And it’s been 16 years since Lord’s 1996. But it stood still every time Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were at the crease. The former, a model of precision, complementing the latter’s artistry. Together, they composed some of the proudest moments of Indian cricket.
But the symphony has reached its coda. The nine-run scratch in the second innings at Perth was the last time we saw Dravid and VVS batting together for India. But that non-starter will soon be forgotten. What will remain etched in sporting memory forever is Kolkata 2001, Adelaide 2003. The partnership of 4065 runs in 86 Test innings at 51.45 with 12 century stands, eight of them coming away from home, where the average rose to 55.85.
Bidding adieu to one of his closest mates, Laxman spoke to bcci.tv about Dravid the batsman, the team-man and the person he has known and admired for two decades.
What is your earliest memory of Rahul Dravid?
I met him for the first time when I played my first match against him. It was an Under-19 match between Hyderabad and Karnataka at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. I was 16 then. Rahul always did well against Hyderabad and in that game too he scored a hundred. I watched him bat and I saw a spark in him. He was different from all the other players in either team. His body language, his mannerisms and the way he played that innings told me there was something special in there which would take him a long way ahead in his career.
What was the best thing about batting with him?
His technique and the ability to concentrate for long hours weighed down the bowlers. That made life easier for the batsman at the other end. I always enjoyed batting with Rahul. The fact that I admired him since our younger days made the experience even more enjoyable. The good thing was we never interfered with each other’s style of play. All we did was assess the situation and the bowling attack and went about the business in our own styles. Luckily, I also got along well with him.
Of all the partnerships that you’ve shared with him, which one do you cherish the most?
One partnership that is really special to me was our first double-century stand in the 1995 Duleep Trophy for South Zone against East. It was a tough track to bat on and both of us were trying to establish ourselves. We both got hundreds against a very decent East Zone attack. That’s the one I’ll cherish forever.
The others are obviously the [376-run stand in the] 2001 Kolkata Test and the [303-run partnership] in Adelaide in 2003. On both occasions we came together when the team was in a tough situation and turned the match around in our favour.
When did the friendship begin to grow?
I was playing against him at the U-19 level but we didn’t get too close as he was my senior by two years. It was when we started to play together for South Zone in the Duleep and the Deodhar Trophy from 1994, and then for India A, that we started bonding. We started to understand each other as people and cricketers and got close. Eventually, we played for India from 1996 onwards and that made our friendship stronger.
Did standing beside each other in the slip cordon establish an affinity?
While fielding in the slips, it is very important to switch on and off. The moment the bowler starts his run-up, you have to start concentrating and be mentally alert. In between, we’ve had so many interesting conversations; we spoke about various things and not only cricket. We discussed our family lives and many other issues depending on what phase of life we were in.
Knowing Dravid so closely, how would you describe him as a friend and as a person?
A very good friend, someone you can truly rely on – just like he is with the bat. As a person he’s a complete family man with great values. The upbringing given by his parents should be credited for that. He’s a quiet person, doesn’t really open up quickly to anyone. It’s not easy to understand the real Rahul but once he opens up, you come to know that he’s got a very good sense of humour.
Is there a side of Rahul Dravid that the outside world doesn’t know of?
There is. There are times when Rahul lets his hair down but I’ve only seen that when he’s in [Javagal] Srinath’s company. With Sri, Rahul completely lets himself loose. There were a few in-jokes they always laughed about. But on the whole, he is a serious guy who is always straightforward and greatly poised.
Could you share an incident revealing the lighter side of Rahul Dravid?
There have been quite a few but the one I’ll never forget came during the 2003 Adelaide Test. Rahul hit the winning runs and all of us were very excited to have won a Test in Australia for the first time in our careers. Rahul took the excitement to a different level. Long after the match was over, he was in his whites; he didn’t even take his Test cap off. He was so excited, and also got a bit drunk in the process. It was a very different Rahul that I saw that day.
How will you remember him as a cricketer?
I’ll remember him as someone who prepared in the best way that he could, for each and every match he played. Also, he could adapt to any situation or condition. Technically sound and a guy who the team can always bank on.
