When Young Rahul Dravid Asked for Roy Dias' Autograph: Sri Lankan Great Recalls Special Bond

Colombo, Aug 26: Long before Rahul Dravid became one of India's greatest batters and later took charge as the team's head coach, he was, like any budding cricketer, fascinated by the stars of the game and eager to collect their autographs.

Former Sri Lanka batter Roy Dias, who was part of the country's historic first Test victory over India in 1985, recently recalled his fascinating connection with Dravid, dating back to 1982 when the then 10-or-11-year-old Karnataka youngster approached him for an autograph.

Their paths crossed again two decades later at the National Cricket Academy, by which time Dravid had evolved from an autograph-seeking youngster into one of India's most accomplished international cricketers.

The first encounter came during Sri Lanka's tour of India in 1982. Dias and former Sri Lanka captain Bandula Warnapura were visiting Bengaluru when a mutual friend took them to a friend's home. Dravid, then a young boy living nearby, came over to meet the visiting cricketers, ask for their autographs and pose for a photograph.

Years later, their roles had changed dramatically.

Dias was coaching a junior Nepal side at the National Cricket Academy in the early 2000s when his players wanted to meet Dravid, by then an established India star. Dias approached Dravid, who readily agreed to spend time with the youngsters.

The two also posed for a photograph, with Dias initially standing behind Dravid.

"Then there was a group photo and I stood behind him. He told me to stand next to him," Dias told PTI.

Dias then reminded Dravid of their first meeting. "It may have been a great thing for you Rahul at that time, taking Dias' autograph, but today I do not mind standing behind you and posing for a photograph."

"Back in 1982, you took my autograph and now I don't mind taking yours," Dias recalled with a chuckle.

The anecdote offers a fascinating glimpse into how cricketing careers can span generations, with a young Dravid going from an autograph-seeking schoolboy to one of India's most accomplished Test batters.

When Sri Lanka Made History Against India

Dias' memories of India are not limited to Dravid. His most significant chapter against India came three years after that first meeting.

In 1985, Sri Lanka secured their first-ever Test victory, defeating a full-strength India by 149 runs at the P Saravanamuttu Oval in Colombo.

Dias played a major role in the landmark victory, scoring 95 in the first innings before adding an unbeaten 60 in the second.

"It was a great victory for us, as it was the first win in Sri Lanka's Test history, and stood as an inspiration for all of us. We keep talking about it even now whenever we meet," Dias said.

The achievement was even more significant because India arrived as the reigning ODI world champions.

"It was all the more incredible because it came against a full strength Indian team, who were also the (ODI) world champions back then," he added.

Dias Fell Five Short of a Century

Dias came agonisingly close to completing a century in the first innings but was dismissed for 95 after attempting a drive against Chetan Sharma.

"Before the series, all the talk was about Kapil Dev, as he was always a fantastic bowler. He had always kept it tight and usually I played it very close and watchfully," Dias said.

"Chetan was also a very nice bowler, and I generally play my drive well, but this time my drive off him was caught by wicketkeeper Sadanand Viswanath."

Dias made up for the disappointment in the second innings, remaining unbeaten on 60.

The former Sri Lankan batter had also narrowly missed out on a century against India in the past, scoring 97 at Chepauk in the drawn Test in 1982.

"But the 1985 series was great, a memorable one for all of us. It gave our cricket a foundation. Many of us were in tears when the series ended," he said.

A Foundation for Sri Lankan Cricket

Sri Lanka had only recently gained Test status when they defeated India, making the victory a defining moment for a young cricketing nation.

Dias believes that success helped create belief within the Sri Lankan cricket system and laid the groundwork for the generations that followed.

Now working with Sri Lanka Cricket's junior talent scouting programme, Dias hopes the current crop can preserve that legacy.

"Dhananjaya de Silva is a good and experienced player. Hopefully, he will guide this new bunch of cricketers," he said.

"Many of them are very young players, and they will get better once they play more Test matches. There is no shortage of talent in Sri Lanka. It's all about giving them the right direction."

Memories of Duleep Mendis, Arjuna and Aravinda

Dias also fondly remembered the players who formed the core of Sri Lanka's rise.

Duleep Mendis, who captained Sri Lanka in 1985, was described by Dias as a determined leader who ensured the team remained united, particularly on overseas tours.

"We were very close back then and we remained friends after all these years," Dias said.

He also reflected on two young players who would later become central figures in Sri Lankan cricket - Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva.

Dias described Ranatunga as a calm, strong-minded batter who valued his wicket and eventually became the captain who led Sri Lanka to their historic 1996 ODI World Cup triumph.

But his praise for Aravinda was even greater. "Aravinda was a class apart. He was very stylish and a brave batsman," Dias said. "I can say that there was no better batsman than Aravinda when he was at his peak."

For Dias, the memories of India's tour are therefore intertwined with two very different chapters - a young boy named Rahul Dravid seeking an autograph and a historic Sri Lankan team defeating the world's reigning ODI champions.

More than four decades later, both remain enduring reminders of how cricket connects generations.

(With Inputs from PTI)