Dravid: I had a very satisfying career

Dravid: I had a very satisfying career

  

Rahul Dravid, who is set to appear in his last one-dayer today in Cardiff, said he is not emotional about his retirement as he hardly played this format in recent times.

 

 

 There is prediction of heavy showers on Friday afternoon when India take on England in the fifth and final match of the ODI series.

His professionalism was evident on Thursday when he entered the ground half an hour before the rest of the team and began knocking the ball around.

Dravid knows it will serve India well to end the tour with at least one win. So, he wants to put it the best effort. "I will try and make it count," Dravid told TOI.

Talking to the media later, Dravid didn't sound emotional about his retirement because he has hardly played ODIs in recent years: "I am not really emotional. It does not feel like I am finishing in some ways or retiring since I would be playing Test cricket. Obviously, I won't be playing anymore one-day cricket, which I thought I won't be even two years ago. But it's nice to reflect back on what I think was a pretty pleasing and satisfying one-day career."

Did it help his Test career when he was not being considered for the ODI team on a regular basis?

"It did in some ways. Initially I found it a bit difficult adjusting from being someone who was playing continuously to one who was not playing one-days. I found that the gaps in between the Tests were as big as nearly six months. It used to be slightly difficult to get straight into Tests, especially nowadays, when there are not a lot of side games on international tours.

"With time, I have learned to manage and adjust. I started enjoying the breaks as that helped me get a lot fitter because I got to spend a lot more time on my fitness and my training. It also helped me iron out flaws in my game and work on it and helped me spend more time with my family. So all in all it has worked out quite well for me."

Talking more about his career in both forms of the game, Dravid said, "I have had some highs and lows in both forms of the game. That is life, that is cricket and it has taught me a lot about myself as a person and how to deal with a lot of things. I have absolutely no regrets. I do not dread the day at all. Retiring from this form of the game is not going to bring very different change to my life over what it has been in the last two-and-a-half years. Obviously when I retire from Test cricket I would have a lot more spare time to think about stuff to do and what to do but I would think about that when I get there."

Before signing off, he said he would miss the intensity with which he used to prepare for matches once he retired from Tests as well.

"Growing up, you didn't do certain things that you normally would have done in college or with your friends. We just didn't have time or energy to do all that stuff because you are so busy playing cricket. But it's something I've always loved and enjoyed doing. Obviously, you've got to be careful as you get older. As you keep playing cricket, you got to ensure and watch things like fitness, diet and practice.

"I do not dread the day at all. Retiring from this form of the game is not going to bring very different changes to my life over what it has been in the last two-and-a-half years," said Dravid.