Rahul Dravid Retires from Twenty20 and ODI Cricket After England Series After Surprise Recall

Rahul Dravid knows he is in great form in the Test series of late. However, even he may have not imagined that the Indian selectors would be looking at him for India’s ODI squad for England. Subsequently Rahul Dravid has announced his retirement, almost as if to suggest that his interests in the format that he was denied have been passed their time and that it is time the selectors to look somewhere else for bail.

Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid has been the sole savior in a dying cause for India in the first two Tests of the India England series and as if the prelude on the tour of the West Indies was indicative, Dravid has entrenched himself as the silent hero even though the ruckus has been about Sachin Tendulkar on the verge of his 100th 100 in international cricket.

The gap between the focus of Dravid and that of the rest of the Indian cricket team at the moment is so vast, it cannot even be quantified. Given that Dravid has stood out as the one man who could stand determined to deny England, not only the Indian cricket team but the Indian selectors also turned to Dravid hoping that his selection would help them escape some of the criticism that has come their way in light of the fitness issues of some of the cricketers.

However, Dravid’s inclusion in the ODI squad for the England series has not only been something of a shock apparently for Rahul Dravid who has not played for over two years but also, has forced Dravid into some hard thinking, which has eventually resulted in a decision Dravid made later today.

Dravid has announced that he will be retiring from Twenty20 and ODI cricket after the India England ODI series, making it apparent that Test cricket is now his top and sole priority. It is not only indicative of Dravid’s appreciation and interest in prolonging his Test career but also, perhaps that Dravid is sending the message indirectly that while he appreciates the call up and that his value in the Indian cricket team is not yet outdated, perhaps the selectors both past and present have overlooked him at a time when he would have been more inclined to pursue it.

With Dravid aging like vintage wine even at the age of thirty-eight, it seems Dravid no longer wants to go through the rounds where he is selected when the Indian cricket team is struggling to impress only to be left out in the cold for another shock recall. The indignity of that is not lost on those that respect his game and perhaps Dravid is now too invested in his Test cricket career to become the interim goto man for the short version, particularly after he was overlooked for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Dravid’s age, experience and stature suggest that he is in the enviable position where he should have the authority on how he envisions his future contributions for his country. Dravid has perhaps made the wise choice of choosing Test cricket while declining the shorter formats, because playing Test cricket gives him the opportunity to not only enrich his own interests but also, gives him valuable time away from the game to spend with family and also, recharge his batteries. Dravid has certainly received a swansong of a series he certainly did not expect coming his way.