After Virat's rage, Dravid’s calm is like a balm

Virat Kohli is right. When he plays for India, he de facto has the crowd’s support across all venues. Even at the Wankhede. A national player would have to do the unpardonable to have his home crowd turn against him. But neither he nor his colleagues are representing the country here. This is the IPL, a different pitch with indecisive fans and different expectations. For instance, answer this question: Who do you root for in the IPL? Simple enough, you would think, but it doesn’t really have an obvious answer. I look at the small sample around me and find diversity even there. For some, it is the team which is geographically closest to them. For others, it is the team that has proximity to their home town. And there are those that look for the team that boasts their favourite players. Clearly, loyalty in the IPL is still fluid and subject to change. It isn’t surprising, really. The IPL is still in a fledgling state and not even close to commanding the fierce followings and die-hard fan bases of the football leagues in the West. Sure, regional affiliations get franchises local support but to earn that something extra from viewers and fans, they need their players’ ability to charm and disarm. [caption id=“attachment_741351” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  There is no better example of a player channelling his own goodwill to his team than Rahul Dravid. BCCI[/caption] That probably sounds odd to you. Likeability is hardly considered a virtue in cricket – not since the Australians showed it wasn’t so. But I find that in the IPL, the on-field, on-camera presence of a player goes a long way in determining his popularity and, consequently, that of his team’s. While applause may not help in winning, it certainly has a positive impact on a team in an away game where the natural support is for the home side. Well, in some cases, it helps to at least not get booed. You learn very quickly that in sport as in life you cannot put a price on likeability while anger and aggression can get old fast. There is no better example of a player channelling this goodwill to his team than Rahul Dravid. The Rajasthan Royals may not be the most exciting or rated team in the IPL but they are perhaps the most rooted-for. I would guess that if we had to pick a team to win other than our favourite, we’d probably go with the Royals. You’d think it was due to that old sympathy factor for the underdog but not this time. Because while we enjoy the exploits of its largely unsung players, the support isn’t so much about the team as it is about its captain. The Royals are the beneficiary when we are, in fact, really rooting for Dravid. No one was expecting this buzz of approval around the Royals and their captain. Dravid, self-admittedly, is not the most exciting cricketer in the world. The proverbial good guy, he has had the tendency to appear boring, even in Test cricket. Pit him against the newbie Indian superstar, he-who-shall-not-be-named, and he might seem too mild-mannered to be effective in this zippy form of the game. His previous IPL outings weren’t particularly inspiring either. But after years of being told that Indian cricket needs aggression and an in-your-face attitude, and after getting more than our share of it in recent times, Dravid’s calm is like a balm that serves as a reminder of the classier past that was, more so because the calm comes repackaged in an energetic avatar that is more cheer-worthy than the previously grim, tense version. The pressure of international cricket is off and this is the only competitive platform he participates in. Therefore, his determination that was usually interrupted by worry-lines is now enhanced by his buoyancy on the field. The stiffness seems to have left his shoulders and we have a relaxed, cheerful legend looking happy to lead his team. The Royals are potentially already in the play-offs and I can’t think of anyone who would grudge them that. Much like Dravid, there are other players who bring a smile to the face but in very different ways. The West Indians led by Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard are universal favourites with their natural swag and charming nonchalance. Even Sir Jadeja, despite belonging to the threatening Chennai Super Kings, has a fan following that cuts across franchise loyalties. You may well ask why any of this ‘airy-fairy’ nonsense should matter. It does because it is the IPL. I find that in no other version of the sport does an individual’s charisma and likeability influence viewers as it does here. This is a league that is self-branded as ‘cricket + entertainment’, hence there is scope for going beyond the trappings of a traditional tournament even though the goal is always to win the damn thing. Cricketers who wear their national caps with almost dour seriousness have the luxury of showing their more human faces without compromising on their commitment to their franchise. The truth of the IPL is that you can win matches and hearts both. And one is always more fun with the other. Ask Dravid. The author writes on popular culture, cricket and whatever else takes her fancy. She tweets @abbykhaitan.