‘I cherish reaching 10,000 Test runs’ |
|
Sunday March 30, 01:02 AM
Chennai, March 29: Many summers ago in South Africa Rahul Dravid, a batsman with tremendous potential and improving all the time shook a major monkey off his back by registering his first three figure knock. It was in Johannesburg where he started his journey of centuries. From there it has traveled to every Test playing nation and it was only fitting that his 25th hundred and his 10,000th run was reserved against the same opponents at the hallowed M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Dravid was naturally elated and said, "I will cherish this feat in Test cricket but the same feat in ODIs will also be special."
As a player Dravid has grown in stature and has always set very high standards. "It is a proud moment. I grew up dreaming to play for India. Looking back, I feel that I have exceed my own expectations and that of others. To do it in Chennai with my parents and family watching is great," he said.
Incidentally it was in Chennai where Dravid took the bigger steps playing for India Cements in the highly competitive senior division league and spending endless hours against budding pacemen at the MRF Pace Foundation.
As for a result from the on-going match, Dravid said, "There is still a chance for a result. We have two quality spinners in Anil and Harbhajan and if we take couple of early wickets tomorrow, we will be right back in the game. They also batted well today but there is slow turn for the bowlers to make use of."
Dravid added getting 10,000 plus runs in one-day matches was special because that format was foreign to his style of play when he started out. "Starting out as a particular kind of player, I had to adapt different skills, playing in different batting slots and adapted to the shorter version too. That gave me satisfaction. Achieving this in Test cricket was equally difficult."
On joining the elite club of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid said, "I am elated to be in that club and it is a great company. Both of them are great batsmen. I know that Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis are also going to get there soon."
Dravid said he could still recollect the picture of Gavaskar late-cutting in the Ahmedabad Test to reach the milestone and added that he never dreamt he would reach that mark one day. The former India captain also said he had to work hard to get from 9,000 to 10,000 and he had learnt a lot during that period.
"It is all part and parcel of game. I have been fighting, particularly after a finger injury in Adelaide. I was able to get couple of good scores in the Deodhar Trophy and that helped regain my rhythm," said Dravid who added NCA Trainer, Paul Chapman played a key role in his recovery from the in jury.
Dravid has many players in the dressing room who own several records and said it was always a happy scene to enjoy the success of team mates. "We do share our successes and moments of glory. Anil’s 600 wickets is an amazing achievement and a special one. Sehwag’s feat yesterday is truly special and one of the best that I have witnessed. I was lucky to watch two of the best innings from the other end (Laxman’s 281 being the other). Sourav was my partner, when I achieved the feat today.
I said to him that he was with me when I made my first hundred and same way here."
On Sehwag missing out on Lara’s record of 400 not out, Dravid said Sehwag had played one of the finest innings and there should be no regrets.
Asked to name his best century Dravid said he would not like to pick one and as long as his centuries helped the team win he would be happy.
|
More Cricket News
Kumble makes enquiries about Kanpur wicketAB delivers as India go with the flowKallis sets the record straight with 30th tonDe Villiers and Kallis put South Africa on topLorgat has ability to juggle politics and cricketShoaib files appeal against banSouth Africa's Lorgat named new ICC chiefIndia v South Africa scoreboard - closeDe Villiers, Kallis score tons as India toilDe Villiers, Kallis build stand as S.Africa dominate
