Chika Talk
Kris Srikkanth
Viru, Dravid stood out
March 30, 2008
The Chennai Test, played on a pitch that remained a batting beauty till the final ball, was never going to produce a result. I would prefer to concentrate on the batting displays of two stalwarts who in their own different ways have served the cause of Indian cricket nobly.
The sizeable crowd at Chepauk was lucky to see Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid perform at their best. I can never stop marvelling at Sehwag. People tell me that I had a rapport with the crowd as my batting used to entertain them. But I can only doff my hat to Sehwag. He is the crowd-puller supreme, an engaging personality who uses his bat like a scimitar. To see Sehwag bat is a revelation for he gets away with the most brazen of strokes.
Sehwag's approach continues to defy the science on which batting is based. But to be averaging over 50 with his buccaneering style, to hit two triple centuries in Tests joining the ranks of Don Bradman and Brian Lara and to hit big hundreds, is simply amazing. How on earth is a batsman who appears to be so fallible so consistent? The figures against his name certainly defy conventional logic. His approach may seem to be outrageous but can one argue with success?
Moreover, Sehwag is a big impact player. As long as he was at the crease the runs were being scored at such a fast pace that even a total of 540 did not seem to be enough to save South Africa from defeat. The moment he was out there was a considerable slackening in the run rate and India's chances of a win dwindled.
As far as Dravid is concerned I have always felt that he has not got his due. Perhaps this is because of his humble, quiet personality. He is simple, straightforward and easily approachable and I have always felt his batting is a reflection of his personality. To score 10,000 runs in both forms of is something that only the best of batsmen can achieve. What is perhaps most notable is that his average is higher in Tests abroad as compared to matches played at home.
Much has been written about Dravid's impeccable batting approach but a comparatively little known fact is that his slip catching has been faultless. Indian cricket's two rare gems chose the Chepauk to script great knocks and to the paying public they did a great service by providing value in an otherwise lifeless match.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
The sizeable crowd at Chepauk was lucky to see Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid perform at their best. I can never stop marvelling at Sehwag. People tell me that I had a rapport with the crowd as my batting used to entertain them. But I can only doff my hat to Sehwag. He is the crowd-puller supreme, an engaging personality who uses his bat like a scimitar. To see Sehwag bat is a revelation for he gets away with the most brazen of strokes.
Sehwag's approach continues to defy the science on which batting is based. But to be averaging over 50 with his buccaneering style, to hit two triple centuries in Tests joining the ranks of Don Bradman and Brian Lara and to hit big hundreds, is simply amazing. How on earth is a batsman who appears to be so fallible so consistent? The figures against his name certainly defy conventional logic. His approach may seem to be outrageous but can one argue with success?
Moreover, Sehwag is a big impact player. As long as he was at the crease the runs were being scored at such a fast pace that even a total of 540 did not seem to be enough to save South Africa from defeat. The moment he was out there was a considerable slackening in the run rate and India's chances of a win dwindled.
As far as Dravid is concerned I have always felt that he has not got his due. Perhaps this is because of his humble, quiet personality. He is simple, straightforward and easily approachable and I have always felt his batting is a reflection of his personality. To score 10,000 runs in both forms of is something that only the best of batsmen can achieve. What is perhaps most notable is that his average is higher in Tests abroad as compared to matches played at home.
Much has been written about Dravid's impeccable batting approach but a comparatively little known fact is that his slip catching has been faultless. Indian cricket's two rare gems chose the Chepauk to script great knocks and to the paying public they did a great service by providing value in an otherwise lifeless match.
Republished with permission from The Asian Age
