Rahul Dravid partners son Anvay with the bat in KSCA league comeback

Bengaluru: During the centenary celebration of Bangalore United Cricket Club (BUCC) a few years ago, former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid had said: “I love the buzz, vibe, camaraderie and the friendship at club cricket. I went back to playing league cricket because I wanted to repay to the game. It is important to be involved and interested in the club or stay interested in what it is doing.”
On Saturday, his love for club cricket yet again came to the fore as the current head coach of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals responded to the allure of 22 yards in the KSCA division III league at SLS Kreedangana here — making a comeback to league cricket after 12 years.
Cricketers from the Young Lions Club, who had turned up for their match against Vijaya Cricket Club, Malur, were in for a huge surprise as the Vijaya CC line-up included an interesting father-son duo: Rahul Dravid and his younger son Anvay.
It’s not often that one gets to see a father and son play for the same team and the novelty factor goes several notches higher with Dravid Senior returning to league cricket.
While the father is one of the finest batsmen India has ever produced and a T20 World Cup-winning coach, sons Samit and Anvay have represented Karnataka in age-group cricket.
A couple of months into his international retirement in 2013, Rahul had featured in a crucial match for his childhood club Bangalore United Cricket Club (BUCC) in the second division league.

For Saturday’s match, Rahul, who has a registered KSCA UID, had signed up for the league on Wednesday.
After Young Lions put Vijaya CC into bat, Anvay, the wicketkeeper-batter, scored a well-crafted 60-ball 58, while Rahul scored 10 before being dismissed by off-spinner AR Ullas. In a bid to accelerate the scoring in the 48th over, Rahul lofted a delivery from Ullas towards the long-off boundary, but was caught by Vivek Naik.
The father-son combination shared a 15-ball, 17-run partnership.
Speaking to TOI about the prized wicket of Rahul, Ullas, who had played against the legend in the past, said: “We got to know that Rahul sir was playing only when we reached the ground. We are both excited and nervous to play against him. Claiming the wicket of Rahul sir was a dream come true.”
Rahul, who offered words of encouragement to the players after the match, told Ullas: “In all these years your bowling hasn’t changed.”
Vijaya CC, riding on Swapnil Yelave’s 50-ball 107, posted 345/7 in 50 overs. Rahul then took the field with his teammates, fielding mostly in the slip cordon with his son Anvay behind the stumps in a match that Vijaya CC won by 24 runs.
Vijaya CC have made the semifinals, but it is not known whether Rahul will feature in the match, the date for which is yet to be finalised.
Rahul is expected to return to the Rajasthan Royals IPL team camp shortly.