As a son <==> As a father!!

I feel we realize the importance of our parents more when we become a parent ourselves. I feel we also tend to become a good human being and learn patience as a parent. On 19th Jan 2010, I am blessed with a beautiful daughter Neha. It’s almost 8 months and I am writing this blog now because each day spent with my kid is helping me realize this.

I am guy who liked to have good amount of sleep everyday. I used to sleep early to ensure I had good sleep. I used to get angry whenever my friends disturbed me during my sleep. I used to shout at them for watching TV late night or keeping the lights on while preparing for exams/interviews. Now that my kid wakes up in midnight very often, I almost wake up every hour to ensure she is comfortable. I am surprised myself to see the changes that parenthood brings into one’s life.

I grew up with two siblings; my elder brother and a younger sister. My father being a weaver was the lone earner for the whole family. His earning was helping us lead a decent life. While growing up, I wanted to play with all the good stuffs that were available in the market and wear nice clothes. I always felt my father had enough money and not buying me the stuff I want because he doesn’t love me. As a kid, I never realized how difficult it was for him to say no to us for all that we wished to have. I never realized that he is sacrificing his own life to ensure we three of us have better future. Whenever I feel my daughter needs something, I ensure I buy that in the first place. When I buy anything for my daughter, I think of my father. Like me even he would have wished to get everything for us. I am realizing now that he was more aware of the reality than us.

As a parent, we tend to learn and realize lot of things that we wouldn’t have compromised otherwise.

Rahul Dravid - An Unsung Hero of Indian Cricket!!

I always feel lucky to have born in an era where Indian cricket climbed the peak of cricketing world.
I am also blessed to have seen era of four invincible, THE FAB FOUR - Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Saurav.
I myself being a hardcore Tendulkar fan never ever realized the significance of this man for helping the team to climb this peak in his own manner.
This article is about the man who stood by his own daemons to make a mark in the cricketing fraternity in his own calming way.
Rahul Dravid - "The Wall" of Indian cricket for more than a decade is now on the verge of making way to the so called "Young Guns".
After playing this cruel game for nearly 15 years with so much grit and gravity, his detractors are behind him to ensure he moves away in the same way he stayed at the wicket - calm and composed.

I was going through India All Time - XI team that was recently selected by a 10 member Jury consisting of former Indian players and sports journalists.
I was amused to read that one of the jury member was not in favor of having Dravid in All Time XI (Dravid got 9 out of 10 votes which meant one of the jury member didn’t consider Dravid as the great).
I am not sure of the gentleman who voted against Dravid but would like put forward a few questions -

What in his accordance made Dravid not fit for All time XI -
- His Technique
- His presence at crease
- His capability to play under pressure
- His attitude on and off the field
- His simple and humble life style

From skill to science, Dravid has everything that a great cricketer needs.
Like Tendulkar, Dravid has lot of cricketing records that are either improbable or impossible to break. He is the best No 3 batsmen that India has produced. You can go up one level to say the world has seen. With India not having good opening stands, Dravid stood as a pillar in the middle to guide India to all the glories.

However, one thing that Dravid lacked was exuberance that was necessary to ensure that media covers him all the time. As a soft-spoken highly humble gentleman of the game, he never got his dues.
Ever since he joined Indian cricket in 1996, Dravid never got the recognition he deserved.
From Saurav who scored a century along side him in that test match to current breed of Sehwag’s, Dhoni’s, and Singh’s; Dravid has been left in the shadows.
Dravid is a master of the old school cricket and doesn't understand the blitz and bias of the current generation.
When Mr. Vengasarkar felt he is not good enough for ODIs, Dravid kept himself to what he has been over the years. He still has lot in him to give it to the game that didn’t respect him for his greatness.
India needs a strong candidate like Dravid in the middle order to guide the young guns in order to hold the World Cup in hand.