Skipper Dravid leads from the front

By John Cheeran
If any Indian regrets that suicidal single, it will be none other than Team India skipper Rahul Dravid.
How I wish that run out does not lead to an Indian defeat.
The way Dravid was batting on Monday, it seemed he was destined for a big innings.
He had completed 8000 runs in Test cricket when he reached the fifty mark, an important milestone if you consider the fact that only Indians who have attained that feat are Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar. Dravid has joined an illustrious company.
Records, however, are purely incidental.
The point is, Dravid was not just staying at the wicket, but scoring quickly, sensing that things can go wrong any moment on this kabhi haan, kabhi na track.
To his credit, Dravid played an invaluable innings of 53 from 89 balls to form a fruitful partnership with Irfan Pathan. The understanding that Pathan and Dravid displayed while running between the wickets was exemplary.
All that changed when Sourav Ganguly walked in.
There is no dispute that the run out stemmed from Dravid’s error of judgment.
But then, it is the norm whenever Ganguly is at the crease, a run out is always on the cards. In Chennai it was VVS Laxman, at Kotla it was Dravid.
Dravid and Pathan, however, have proved that there are no demons on this wicket.
Dravid might have lost out on his century, which would have boosted his Test batting averages as a captain. But certainly a confident skipper has put India on the road to victory.
It is high time Team India responded to the skipper’s call with a resounding yes.