Dravid: At best a confused cricketer in the one-day game

Why is Rahul Dravid so difficult to like when he is out in the middle batting for India in a limited overs game? Easily the most technically correct of the Indians, the Karnataka middle order batsman is the most likely to survive a spell of high class bowling from the opposition, be it wily spin or hostile fast bowling. Unlike many others who achieved similar status in Indian cricket, Dravid shies away from needless publicity. Of the leading Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and himself, Dravid is easily the least flashy. While he wears his painfully correct approach to batting on his sleeve, the same can't be said of the riches he has made or the celebrity status he has achieved.

Dravid is almost always polite, rarely angry and always ready to do battle for India. Why then does he manage to attract the ire of scribes and spectators alike with such alarming regularity?

It was in the press box at the Eden Gardens at Kolkata early this year that I witnessed for the first, and hopefully last time, Dravid's expression of anger at his many detractors. Although one had not written anything particularly vitriolic, Dravid was not high on the list of favourites at the time, following his completely inept display against the leg spin of Shane Warne. On reaching a determined and hard fought ton after India followed on, Dravid's pointed gesturing to the press box was a sight to behold. Why, the moment sent tingles down the spine. All this to someone who had not really gone after the man.

After going on to make 180 high quality runs in that famous game, where India seemingly were summoned from the grave by the willows of Laxman and Dravid, a whole new persona seemed to have emerged. One that was outwardly confident, ready to take on challenges without being dour about it and most importantly, one that was willing to look beyond what was already known. It seemed like Dravid had heaved the proverbial sack of coals over his head. There was an openness to embrace innovation in the limited overs game and leave behind those aspects of an obsession with technique and correctness that once were a burden. Whispers of a `new' Dravid soon began to do the rounds.

And these whispers were only reinforced by the 84-ball 80 that Dravid carved out for himself in the first limited overs international against the Aussies at Bangalore. My fellow columnist, Sankhya Krishnan, took a hard look at Dravid's performance in limited overs cricket and the conclusions were disappointing, if not entirely surprising. In general, Dravid emerged a solid performer for India, but failed to deliver when the pressure of a run chase was on. In the 72 innings that Dravid batted first for India, he averages a very healthy 43.72 with six tons and 20 half centuries. Batting second however, Dravid is a big let down, averaging just 30.23 in 71 innings. Just once has Dravid reached three figures batting second for the country.

So, one has to ask the question: was the hope that Dravid had conquered his demons during the Australian tour of India in vain? If his performance in the Coca-Cola Cup in Sri Lanka is anything to go by, the answer would have to be a reluctant yes.

After 153 limited overs matches, it seems like Dravid is yet to come to terms with the nuances of the limited overs game. At the crease, he looks laboured, often tired and is tied up in knots by bowlers who have been knocked around by lesser batsmen. When Dravid made a wholly meaningless 49 not out from 81 balls against Sri Lanka in the Coca- Cola Cup in Sri Lanka, it was plainly obvious that there is a long way to go for the Indian vice captain. Chasing 222, India fell short by six runs with Dravid crawling along all the way, shepherding India to the point of no return. It was nothing short of frustrating to watch Dravid chug along, completely unable to stroke a single boundary, oblivious to the fact that the sort of innings he was playing would cause India's eventual downfall.

Can it really be true that Dravid is not sure about what is expected of him in One-Day cricket? If it is indeed so, then the future of Indian cricket is not in good hands. The stand-in captain with the cent percent two wins in two matches record is not the man young cricketers should be rubbing shoulders with. After all, it's one thing to be unsure when you're new to the world stage. But after establishing yourself as one of the best Test batsmen in the world and playing over 150 limited overs matches, you are still not sure of your role, then there certainly is cause for serious concern.

The doubts about Rahul Dravid's place in the One-Day game may never be resolved. In effect, nothing really has changed since my colleague wrote his piece during the Australia tour of India. As he put it, "Until Dravid can play the sort of innings he did in Bangalore under the pressure of a runchase, the jury will continue to be in session."

Believe me, the jury is still very much in session. And with the failures adding up, the chances of Dravid securing a favourable verdict seem increasingly gloomy.