Dravid seems increasingly isolated by failure in a side riding the adrenaline rush of fresh conquest. Since relinquishing the captaincy - and for a while before - it has been a steep downward curve. Skipper and coach seem reluctant to experiment with moving him down the order and that has not helped either.
Few are willing to take a call, though, on what lies ahead for one of the most cerebral, dependable batsmen of this generation.
Dravid has carved epic victories with mathematical precision and monkish calm so goodwill hasn't deserted him. He has been retained in Grade A at an annual retainership of Rs 60 lakh.
The team management is in denial mode, chirruping constant encouragement. Dravid is a modern great, and everyone assumes it's a matter of just one knock. But goodwill doesn't last forever.
Recently, Dravid has seldom looked in control, poking away at deliveries or pushing too hard, succumbing to rookie spinners, losing his calm, freezing his feet at the wrong moments, conjuring all his effort and intensity into compiling mere starts.
For the first time in a calendar year, his average has fallen below 30. At times, his rock-solid defence looks awry. Even knocks like the one at Perth, the ton against SA, or some good Ranji scores have not been harbingers of a return to the sort of Dravid the team needs. It has gone beyond mere poor form.
His competitors are gaining on him. The Grade B stars - the born-again Suresh Raina, the classy but raw Rohit Sharma and S Badrinath, the most obvious, experienced replacement - are breathing down Dravid's neck.
Cheteshwar Pujara, in Grade D, has been in the form of his life but untested at this level. Badrinath brings solid technique and sound temperament and is a much-improved strokeplayer. But none of these names can really fill a Dravid's shoes.
After single-digit scores in his last four innings, it may finally be time for Dravid himself to take a call on where he stands, and where he intends to go from here. Are there newer milestones to conquer? Demons to exorcise? Points to prove? Has the schoolboy enthusiasm for the game, so crucial for long-term success - just look at Tendulkar - waned a bit? Most importantly, can the mind be set right when fear of failure gnaws at the gut?
Every once in a while, even a batsman lauded for impeccable technique needs to ditch the science and rediscover the art and joy of batting.
Rahul Dravid's dubious record
Rahul Dravid has earned a dubious distinction with his dismissal on 4 in the second innings on Monday. For the first time in his career, he has registered single digit scores in four successive innings - 0 & 3 vs. Australia at Nagpur and 3 & 4 vs.England at Chennai.
Since the 2002 Headingley Test (52.76) against England, Dravid's career average (52.12) is the lowest ever.
Since relinquishing the captaincy, Dravid's country-wise Test record is as under:
| Opponents | T | I | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | S.Rate | 100 | 50 | 0 |
| Australia | 8 | 15 | 1 | 357 | 93 | 25.50 | 34.86 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| SA | 3 | 5 | 1 | 178 | 111 | 44.50 | 36.10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| England | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3.50 | 16.27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 6 | 0 | 148 | 68 | 24.66 | 41.34 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 3 | 6 | 1 | 191 | 50 | 38.20 | 42.53 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 18 | 34 | 3 | 881 | 111 | 28.41 | 37.22 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Home | 11 | 20 | 2 | 496 | 111 | 27.55 | 39.39 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Away | 7 | 14 | 1 | 385 | 93 | 29.61 | 34.74 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Last 10 Tests | 10 | 19 | 1 | 342 | 68 | 19.00 | 38.99 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
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