Leave..

( My apologies to everyone who left a comment on the blog.. I havent had the opportunity to respond to the comments, something that I intend to do over the next couple of days. Apologies to for not blogging. After Mumbai, cricket seemed trivial, blogging even more so.)

Lots of talk about Rahul Dravid in the media and the blogosphere.3 runs in 24 balls and a dropped catch to boot has everyone wondering about what the future holds for Dravid.. My suggestion - do the honorable thing and call it quits.

Not because you will lower your average by hanging on. Not also because of the legacy you will leave behind.

But because when you were captain, you and the Coach and the Chairman of Selectors of the time insisted on a simple mantra - perform or perish.

Its time to walk that talk.

And let us be very clear here - it is not because Dravid has not been scoring centuries or that his average is in the 30s that he should call it a day. It is because he is the biggest momentum killer in the Indian batting line up right now. And also because his scratching and pottering around in the crease kills whatever confidence the dressing room has after the Sehwag-Gambhir opening.

And if the general tone of this post suggests that I have no sympathy for Dravid, I dont.

He was on the cusp of being one of India's best Test captains when he abruptly ( and without any explanation) quit after the England tour. He had the team, he had the bowlers, hthe team was getting moulded in the image of their captain when he walked.

His ODI captaincy, I never rated.

Greatest #3 India has ever had or a batsman who hit a purple patch between 2001 and 2005, posterity will decide.

Churlish and selfish. That is how I will remember Dravid's legacy as captain. Always the bridesmaid,never the bride, that is how I will remember Dravid's career.

Sayonara Rahul, and thanks for Kolkatta 2001 and Adelaide 2003 and RawalPindi 2004.