Dear Rahul Dravid,
First things first. Let me begin this with a confession that I am a huge fan of yours and anything you do makes me sit up and take a note. On Tuesday night, you eloquently delivered a thoughtful lecture as a part of MAK Pataudi lecture series. Read: Video and full transcript of Rahul Dravid’s lecture at MAK Pataudi Memorial Lecture 2015-16
The passion with which you talked about the game and especially about junior grade cricket made it very clear that you are clearly the best man to mentor India’s future cricket stars (Oh and how I wish I was one those!). The issues you raised and the journey you described of a cricketer from junior days of struggle and toil to international stardom couldn’t have been truer.
As a 10-year-old kid, the only dream I had ever dreamt was wearing the blue jersey. At 16, I realised I was not cut out for the bigger level. My perception of my game was based on the limited opportunities that I had got largely because I was a cricketer in the Stuart Binny mode, neither a complete batsman nor a complete bowler and hence hardly got more than a handful chances to showcase my talent (which I assume it was there!).
You talked about how Indian kids have to keep themselves motivated for the sport and yet at the same time stay abreast with their studies.
At 16, I had to make a choice, a choice to give up competitive club cricket, not that I had played much, and focus on studies. Fortunately, I did pretty well in my studies to secure good marks and a seat in MBBS, but there are many kids from the academy that I played for, still floundering and making unsuccessful attempts to pursue their dreams at 22, with having no educational qualification to fall back upon.
And I think it’s a perfect time that BCCI takes your words seriously. There’s a need to make changes in junior level cricket like you talked about so that everybody gets a fair chance to at least show their talents in stead of just a few batsmen scoring mammoth double hundreds in school cricket while the rest sit and waste their precious hours at crucial junctures of their lives. Not everyone can be Sachin Tendulkar or yourself, but who knows (if I am allowed to daydream!), if I had a coach like you and a few more opportunities, I would have been sitting along side Virat Kohli listening to your highness live.
On a serious note, once again, you have provided with words, which the governing members and all aspiring cricketers should mull over and implement for the long-term benefits. Till then, I would just wish you and your under-19 boys a very good luck for their World Cup preparations.
A fitting show from your wards at the World Cup would be the most fitting tribute to your legendary contributions to the game. Thanks for continuous inspiration.
Regards,
Devashish Palkar
(A failed cricketer, amateur writer, a budding doctor and a crazy Indian cricket fan)
[Devashish Palkar, an MBBS student, A sports afficionado, news addict and a patient of OCSD ( Obsessive Compulsive Satirical Disorder)].
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