T20 World Cup 2024: A West Indian redemption for Rahul Dravid that erased old Indian wounds

Friday Night Lights may not be a known series in India, but the sports docu-drama resonated with a lot of fans. Kyle Chandler who plays the role of Eric Taylor (based on coach Gary Gaines) while speaking to his team came up with one of the most immortal quotes in the dressing room. "Can you live in that moment as best you can, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, with joy in your heart? If you can do that gentlemen, then you're perfect”

It was almost a perfect line to describe how Rahul Dravid may have felt on those hallowed grounds of Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. The 51-year-old was revisiting a country where he had the biggest regret of his cricketing life as the moments from the 2007 ODI World Cup might have come flooding into his mind. 

A teary-eyed Rahul Dravid was flanked by Sachin Tendulkar and the other Indian members as they lost to Sri Lanka to head back home after the first round. As he sat in the Barbados dressing room as the coach, his mind would have flickered. This is the same ground where he wanted to achieve his moment under the sun, the same venue where he wanted to put his national colors and fly them high. 

Just as the final ball of the T20 World Cup was bowled, there was pandemonium. Rohit Sharma was on the ground, Hardik Pandya in tears, and Virat Kohli for once subduing his thoughts. The cameras panned to Rahul Dravid, the man was unhinged, he was no longer the mellow and demure boy from Bengaluru. Rahul Dravid could be seen celebrating wildly it was almost like the 17-year burden was lifted off his shoulders.

Rahul Dravid’s last tango ends in Euphoria

With Heinrich Klaasen smashing 24 runs off Axar Patel's over, there was a sense of déjà vu in the air. Here was India yet again on the cusp of major glory and yet again it was about to be taken away from their grasp. 

Dravid was briefly seen with worrying signs written on his face. How could the cricketing gods be so cruel to a guy? Jasprit Bumrah though came back like a phoenix from the ashes when fans and experts might have put their heads a bit low.

Pandya reserved his best with the ball for the finals. It almost felt like the final script was written in the stars. Once it was all over and the stars had perfectly aligned, the fans were weeping openly, and so were the cricketers. These are the men who are treated as demigods, and they have broken down openly. 

Rahul Dravid could be seen wiping his tears, it was a moment where it dawned on everyone, that they are humane after all. Once Kohli handed him the title, Dravid was as happy as a father cradling his child in his arms. The title wasn’t just a title, it was his child, one that was nurtured after over 10 months of pain. It was his child, that he had fallen in love with. 

As the broadcast was about to fade to black, Dravid was given a college-like farewell. All the cricketers picked him up and showed him the same love that one of the most respected professors would get.

This is where sports breaks the myth, strong men cry, feel pain, and have to get to hell before finding paradise. Dravid found his paradise on the 29^th of June 2024 in Barbados. The 17-year-old wait was indeed over, as the most elite gentleman of the game walked into the sunset. When he would look back, he would fondly say that Barbados was indeed his redeeming arc.