Dravid has been India’s best batsman overseas and one of her greatest match-winners with the willow.  But ever since he abdicated the captaincy hot seat, ostensibly to concentrate on his batting, he has looked a pale shadow of the mighty batsman who was once the solid, impenetrable, rock-like fulcrum of an Indian batting line-up that has scored tons of runs from Sydney to Sabina Park and all ports in between.

Having watched him closely during the past series, this writer, can’t pinpoint a particular weakness that has crept up into his batting.  Rather, it seems that the one aspect of his batting, which was his strongest asset, even stronger than his water-tight technique, i.e. his mind, has started to betray him.  He has shown an un-Dravid-like tendency to press the issue, leading to his downfall for 0 and 3 in the Nagpur Test. 

This weakness has been increasingly apparent, though probably not as glaringly obvious as in this recent series, ever since the self-imposed period of introspection which he entered into after he gave up the Indian Test captaincy. 

And now the tendency to press the issue, has even crept into his slip fielding.  Normally one of the best slip fielders in the world, he has looked anxious, and has seemed to be snatching or grabbing at chances, putting down simple ones that normally he would have taken without a fuss. 

Another factor that cannot be minimized is the fact that Anil Kumble, who not only provided Dravid with the largest number of his slip catches, but also had enormous and almost unshakable faith in Dravid as batsman, fielder, and team player, has departed the scene.  M.S. Dhoni, his successor, is too smart an operator to question a legend like Dravid, by making intemperate comments in public, but he will not be averse to demanding behind closed doors in the dressing room that all his players pull their weight.

For the sake of Dravid’s many fans, it may be time for him to announce his retirement, and provide all Indian cricket fans, with an opportunity to salute him and bid him a proper farewell.  Because, with the kind of batting form he is in currently, and has been for the past two years and twenty five odd Tests (a very long rope by any standard), the selectors can’t be faulted if they decide that it is time to look beyond him and make the decision for him.  

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