When was the last time you went to a restaurant or bar to spend quality time with friends? When was the last time you went out with family to a restaurant to eat good food and discuss the good qualities of life?
When was the last time you went to the mall to shop, window-shop and generally hang out? Which was your last movie in a theatre? For over a month, all these activities, which were once considered a luxury and as a part of daily life, has come to a grinding halt. All due to the coronavirus pandemic that has locked down the entire country.
With no sport anywhere in the globe (with the exception of maybe Vanatau or Taipei), no socialising, no partying and no form of outdoor activity potentially throughout the summer, it is now time for us to rise up when the chips are down.
The fight against the coronavirus has been linked to that of survival in a Test match. For the Indian population, following Rahul Dravid’s mantra will go a long way in defeating the coronavirus. We have a role-model who has thought us that through sheer determination and guts, he could achieve tremendous success in the game of cricket. If we follow his discipline, determination and dedication and calmness, Indian society can overcome the coronavirus pandemic easily.
The Wall Of Support
This individual contributed to the Indian cricket team consistently when they were in trouble. In any condition, he showed tremendous discipline and never gave up. Through his dedication, he became the ultimate team player who was willing to take on any role that came his way. His stoic defence earned him the nickname ‘The Wall’.
Rahul Dravid, who was the pillar of the Indian cricket team for 16 years, smashed 13288 runs at an average of 52 with 36 Test tons. His approach in Tests will be the blueprint for India’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Adapting Rahul Dravid’s Batting In a COVID-19 World
Rahul Dravid’s batting was based on a simple formula: Discipline and never giving up. In Tests, he would patiently leave balls outside the off stump and then block out the good balls. Once he had the bowlers on the mat, he would then capitalise and score big. This is what we as a nation must do.
We must indeed follow social distancing. We must not gather at public places. We need to ensure we do not panic and rush to places in order to fulfill our social craving after months of lockdown. We must not crowd buses, planes and trains once the lockdown is lifted just because home or family beckons after months of isolation.
Just like Dravid, we have to be patient and stay calm if we are to defeat the coronavirus. If the population does something irresponsible, in cricketing parlance, it will be like chasing a ball wide outside off stump and losing your wicket in a precarious situation.
Dravid’s Discipline, Determination A Must For India
The Indian population, a fair majority of them, are all conveniently disciplined but Dravid is un-Indian in this case. Knowing that the situation is bad, the population must weather the tough times in order to get greater success. One can follow how Dravid weathered the storm during his numerous match-winning knocks in England and in 2006 against West Indies in Jamaica.
In England, armed with a green pitch and cloudy skies, Rahul Dravid encountered tough times initially but achieved success through tremendous discipline. Out of 7 Test tons against England, 6 came in their tough conditions.
In 2006, on a two-paced pitch in Kingston, 10 Indian batsmen did not hit 50s in two innings but Dravid achieved a fifty in both innings. He tackled the conditions, showed immense discipline in putting a price on his wicket. Result: India won the series in the West Indies for the first time in 35 years.
What does all this show? If one weathers the tough times with discipline, then success will come. If the population of India can enhance their hygenic standards, respect the laws set out by governments and policemen as well as make the lives of doctors and everyone around easy by adhering to the lockdown, then the coronavirus will be defeated in India.
Discipline, dedication, doggedness and determination. These four defined Rahul Dravid and his batting. The numbers and results are there for the world to see. Dravid’s method was successful. If India’s population follows the 4Ds mentioned above, then India’s fight against the coronavirus will be successful.
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