When a journalist questioned Rahul Dravid about whether he thought Pakistan’s fast bowlers bowled better than their Indian counterparts in their first match, “zyada mazboot tha,” Rahul Dravid was more amused than annoyed. I appreciate their bowlers and am aware of how excellent they were, but our bowlers also did a good job of bowling to limit them to 147. It doesn’t matter if you bowl at 147, 145, 135 or 125, if you seam or swing the ball; in the end, what matters is whose analysis is more accurate and what difference it ultimately made. I can see that India won the game, he continues. By that time, the platitudinous build-up had evolved into sarcasm.
He had just started to get in the groove, had fended off the early and incorrect bouncers, and was now eager to expand and have some fun. He swivels back in his chair and exclaims, “Our bowling attack might not be the best,” breaking out in fits of laughter. I was going to say something that just came to mind, but I can’t. As only he could when the mood struck, he has the floor in splits.
He’s tapped. Is that over the top? “No, no, it isn’t,” He can’t help but laugh. “Like I said, I’m unable to tell you that. It’s a four-letter word with a s in the beginning. Again, laughter is rolling on the floor.