Dravid savours life after retirement

VVS Laxman may have skipped last week's Hyderabad Test, the first played after his abrupt retirement, but Rahul Dravid turned up on both the days in the second Test, in the first series since he had called it a day after the disappointing Australia tour. Khurram Habib reports.

VVS Laxman may have skipped last week's Hyderabad Test, the first played after his abrupt retirement, but Rahul Dravid turned up on both the days in the second Test, in the first series since he had called it a day after the disappointing Australia tour.

Rahul-Dravid-announced-his-retirement-from-international-cricket-in-Bangalore-AFP

Clad in blue shirt, and with strands of white hair, the first thing that strikes one about Dravid is him playing by the book. Not just him but Anil Kumble, another legend of India and Karnataka cricket, also swipes his card to enter any restricted area within the stadium although there is enough space next to the turnstile to walk through.

Dravid has been honoured with a wall at the Chinnaswamy Stadium that lists all his Test centuries and features a big cut-out of him in steel.

There is talk he will get into administration in local cricket which already has the likes of Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad. He is also expected to soon turn a commentator. On Saturday, he was on air as an expert. He still has his contract with the Rajasthan Royals, although the there is some debate in what capacity will he appear in the IPL? Sources in RR say he may play for one more season.

“Just two years back, he got into the KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) committee. He could have gotten in earlier but he wanted to focus on his game. Unfortunately, he cannot contest till two years after his retirement,” said a member.

So what's keeping him busy? “Well, it is the family. I am giving time to my family post-retirement,” says the man himself. “As for cricket, I haven't yet decided.”

Not for nothing have we always known Dravid as a quiet achiever.