A lot changed for Rahul Dravid between his two international outings in Chennai this year. In March, after the run-heavy drawn Test against South Africa, he left the city as a man who had made peace with himself. With the first ton after leaving captaincy, Dravid’s decision to concentrate on his batting without the burden of leadership suddenly started seeming prudent after the knock. The first three-digit score in 21 months against a top Test side was the kind of reassurance the 35-year-old had needed in a year when two of his long-standing mates were set to retire.

Now a few months older and in the middle of the worst slump of his career, Dravid this time leaves Chennai with scores of 4 and 3, and there are many who are saying this is nothing but that inevitable countdown signalling the end of a glorious cricketing career. Since the present squad has been picked for two Tests, the national selectors are out of the picture when it comes to taking the big decision on Dravid, but there is bound to be some talk within the team management before penning his name down in the XI at Mohali.

In the two knocks in Chennai, Dravid was tentative with his footwork and unsure about the line and length of the ball. In the first innings he was beaten by turn, and in the second by pace. On both occasions he wasn’t out playing a shot. In the past, lots of players have tried to hit out of slumps but Dravid, as was expected from someone as meticulous as him, has opted to take the defensive route. He isn’t hurried in the middle, but he is hesitant. His lbw to Graeme Swann, and his edge off Andrew Flintoff were both examples of a muddled mind caught in indecision.

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