Playing with Aldrin and Somesh made me realise I would be better off playing cricket: Dravid

Former India cricket team captain Rahul Dravid got the chance to indulge in nostalgia when he visited St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (SJCC) here on Friday. 

Dravid, perhaps SJCC’s most famous alumnus, held centrestage in the inauguration ceremony of the Colgate Total inter-college 5-a-side hockey tournament, held as past of the SJCC (B. Com) programme platinum jubilee celebrations.

Dravid reminisced about his years spent at SJCC. “Coming back here brings back some truly lovely memories. I spent five of some of the most wonderful years of my life here,” Dravid said in a hall packed with enthusiastic students. 

Dravid recalled that he represented Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy while studying at SJCC, and mentioned that the institute’s support of his sporting aspirations left a lasting impression.

“I went on to represent India a couple of years after I left college. So I truly grew as a cricketer here, but more importantly I think those five years helped me grow as a person,” he said. 

Dravid later showcased some deft hockey skills, with a quick dribble and pass exchange with college-mates and former India hockey internationals Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh. 

The 53-year-old Dravid spoke about playing alongside Aldrin and Somesh for the St. Joseph’s Boys’ High School hockey team. 

“I was very fortunate to play with Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh for two reasons. The first was we were a very strong hockey team, and we would win the inter-school Centenary Shield and the Father Eric Vaz tournaments thanks to these two guys. It was also a good lesson for me because when I played hockey with them, I realised that I am better off playing cricket. Hockey was not going to take me anywhere. They were that good,” Dravid said. 

“When I came to college here in SJCC, the standard of hockey was too good for someone like me. I had to stick to playing cricket,” Dravid said. 

The SJCC Old Students Association is organising the tournament in association with ‘Yes for Hockey’, and features 17 teams from across Karnataka.