When my school stopped teaching so we could see Rahul Dravid destroy Australia Down Under

The unsung hero of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory was their coach Rahul Dravid. A man who ran things from the sidelines, he ended his coaching stint on a high. Dravid’s selfless nature was shown during the press conference when he sent Rohit Sharma to accept the praise but back in 2023, when India lost the ODI World Cup final vs Australia, he turned up to accept the criticism.

But that should come as no surprise. The man has always been selfless, be it as a coach, player or human being. For yours truly, this was a reminder of how he played his cricket. He always put the team first. In fact, It took me back to a time when Dravid brought down Australia in their own backyard. But what was interesting was that my school halted classes so that we could watch it.

Rewind to December 16, 2003. I was a 17-year-old Class XI student. My school was on the brink of winter vacations. Because it was a Christian institution, we had almost a month of vacation during Christmas. But at that time, what was occupying my mind was happening miles away in Adelaide, Australia.

India were taking Australia on in the second Test. It was the final day’s play and India were 37/0 needing another 193 to win. When I left for school, play had just started and my parents were watching intently. My dad was confident India would do it as long they did not throw it away. My mother was praying that history be made. We had not won a Test in Australia since 1981.

What has happened in the game so far? Australia had piled up 556 and India had recovered from 85/4 thanks to Dravid’s 233 and VVS Laxman’s 148. India finished with 523. In the second innings Ajit Agarkar made them dance to his tune with 6/41. Australia were 196 all out and India’s target was 230. 37 of them had been gathered with all 10 wickets left to end the fourth day. The equation was simple, India needed 193 runs while Australia needed 10 wickets.

When classes began, I learned that both Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra were out. But I was not worried. We had the likes of Dravid, Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly to take us home. Soon the teachers informed us that Sachin and Ganguly were both out. India needed 59 and had six wickets in hand with Dravid and Laxman at the crease. At this time, the school decided to halt classes. The TV sets were turned on in every classroom and we watched the match.

Dravid had already settled in and with Laxman for company was taking India steadily towards the target. I was feeling more pressure than the players themselves. But ‘The Wall’ and India’s ‘Very Very Special’ player looked calm as cucumbers. They were ice cool as they ticked off the deficit. When Laxman fell, India needed just 13. When Parthiv Patel perished, India were just one short of creating history with four wickets left.

Dravid came on strike and did not waste any time. He sent the ball into the boundary and threw his arms up in exultation. Those of us watching also celebrated a brilliant victory for India. It was history being made as we won our first Test Down Under since 1981. For my generation, it was a win to remember.

Dravid finished with 72 not out and India took a 1-0 lead with two games left. The previous Test had been drawn. The series would ultimately be drawn 1-1 after Australia won the next and saved the last. It was Steve Waugh’s farewell and the Indians did spoil the party to some extent. We retained the rubber. India would finally win a Test series in Australia in 2018-19. They did it again in 2020-21. But those are tales for another day.

As for myself, time has flown. Fast forward to 2024, I am closing in on my 38th birthday and am a sports writer by profession. A lot older and a little wiser, I now look at the game a little more analytically than I did at 17. My dad is in the happy hunting grounds and my mother is leading the life of retirement. But that day remains etched in my memory.