The Wall Holds Up

Rahul Dravid has neatly combed his hair. He looks a studious schoolboy who will do nothing that the law and its sub-sections does not permit. "I don't drink unless we win," he confirms. The very correct vice-captain looks every inch an endearing runner-up, the one who always runs hard but it's just that someone or the other finishes in more spectacular fashion.

In a cumulative computation of all deeds done, The Wall is a hero by any standards. But there is something about his cricket life that, when it comes to public memory of his knocks, casts him in the shadow of someone better on that day. A famous example is the match against Sri Lanka in the last World Cup when his career-best 145 was sidelined by a fearsome 183 by Ganguly. It's happened many-a-time afterwards too. The phenomenon continues in this Cup. His 62 against England was the axis on which the Indian innings revolved, but the match will be remembered for Sachin's fierce return to total form and Nehra's best ever Indian bowling figures in Cup history, 6-23. Dravid's unbeaten 44 against Pakistan guided India to victory but again casual history will essentially highlight Sachin's violent 98 instead.

"It doesn't bother me," Dravid says laughing. "I believe it's a team sport and very rarely does an individual performance win a match. I like being part of a good useful partnership. Any day, I will choose a second best score that helps the team win than a spectacular innings despite which the team loses." Yet, as a recurring phenomenon it's very curious.

In 2002-03, his unbeaten 109 against the West Indies in Ahmedabad was overshadowed by Gayle's epic 140. In the same series, his useful 58 was sidelined by Agarkar's exciting 3-24. Again, Kaif's 111 not out will be remembered over Dravid's 71 against Zimbabwe at Colombo last year. One can go on and on. In the Headingley Test last year, he scored 148, but Sachin hit 193 (the judges though were perceptive enough to realise that Dravid's was the better innings played in more difficult conditions, and named him Man of the Match).

While he is ready to accept the quirk of fate in these statistics, Dravid adds: "The perception that I have to keep wickets to find a place in the side is unfair." He believes he would be in the one-day side on the strength of his batting alone. "I enjoy keeping but I don't think it's time to call me a regular keeper. I don't recognise myself as a regular keeper," he says with a chuckle. But it's time India recognised him as not just part of the supporting cast.