Jammu, Jan 11, TEN Network | Wishes poured in as former Indian captain Rahul Dravid turned 47 on Saturday. Dravid, commonly known as ‘The Wall’ is still regarded as one of the best No.3 batsmen that India have ever produced in Test cricket. Dravid, who made his debut for India in 1996 at Lord’s, went on to play 164 Tests, 334 ODIs and 1 T20I in an illustrious career lasting for over 16 years. Dravid is still the only Indian apart from Sachin Tendulkar to have scored more than 10,000 runs in Tests and ODIs. Regarded as one of the best Test cricketers, Dravid did have very good ODI numbers to his credit too. He scored 10889 runs in 334 ODIs at an average of 39.16 but his record in Tests was impeccable – 13288 runs at a staggering average of 52.31 including 36 hundreds, once again the best after Tendulkar among Indian batsmen.
BCCI decided to wish Dravid on his birthday by highlighting his ODI credentials by sharing the video of his 153-run knock against New Zealand
The BCCI posted a video of Dravid’s knock and captioned the post as–”Wishing The Wall – Rahul Dravid a very Happy Birthday. His exploits in Test cricket are well known but we thought we would relive one of his knocks in ODIs against New Zealand. #HappyBirthdayRahulDravid”.
BCCI✔@BCCI
Wishing The Wall – Rahul Dravid a very Happy Birthday. His exploits in Test cricket are well known but we thought we would relive one of his knocks in ODIs against New Zealand.
#HappyBirthdayRahulDravid
Dravid knock of 153 against the Kiwis in 1999 at Hyderabad included 15 fours and two sixes. He was involved in a 331-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, enabling the side to post a total of 376/2 in the allotted fifty overs. India went on to register a win by 174 runs in the match.
“My inspiration…Always looked up to him…Made my International debut alongside him…Always a guiding light and a role model to me… He’s someone whom I truly treasure. Wish Rahul Bhai a very happy birthday,” Rahane tweeted.
Ajinkya Rahane✔@ajinkyarahane88
My inspiration…
Always looked up to him…
Made my International debut alongside him…
Always a guiding light and a role model to me…
He’s someone whom I truly treasure. Wish Rahul bhai a very happy birthday!
“From my understanding, I thought grinding only happens in the kitchen in the mixer grinder, but Dravid taught one can grind on the cricket pitch as well. We had it all when we had the Wall !#HappyBirthdayRahulDravid,” Virender Sehwag bought his witty side to extend birthday greetings.
Virender Sehwag✔@virendersehwag
From my understanding, I thought grinding only happens in the kitchen in the Mixer Grinder, but Dravid taught one can grind on the cricket pitch as well. We had it All when we had the Wall !#HappyBirthdayRahulDravid
Former cricketer VVS Laxman also wished Dravid and tweeted- “Wishing my good friend Rahul Dravid a very special birthday and a wonderful year filled with love, happiness, and prosperity”.
VVS Laxman✔@VVSLaxman281
Wishing my good friend Rahul Dravid a very special birthday and a wonderful year filled with love,happiness and prosperity.
Mohammad Kaif✔@MohammadKaif
Inspiration. Role Model. Legend. Wishing the great man , Rahul Dravid a very happy birthday #HappyBirthdayRahulDravid
Harbhajan Turbanator✔@harbhajan_singh
Chennai Super Kings✔@ChennaiIPL
Super Birthday to the rare embodiment of pure class. So rare that he’s that guy whose advice just can’t bore you! Here’s some pure gold that’ll hold good and inspire kids even in 3020! #HappyBirthdayDravid #WhistlePodu
ICC✔@ICC
Scored over 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs
Happy birthday, Rahul Dravid
What are your favourite memories of ‘The Wall’?
Saksham Varshney@Sakshamvarshn16Sachin -GOD
Sourav ganguly-GOD OF OFFSIDE
VVS Laxman-GOD OF LEGSIDE
But even when these GODS fail they all hide behind the WALL.The wolf who lived for the pack.Happy birthday rahul dravid.Some succeeded because they are destined to
He succeeded because he was determined to.
Aayush Jhawar #EidRadheyKi@aayushjhawar83Happy Birthday Rahul Dravid.
@RahulDravidFC
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2000!
ICC Test Player of the Year 2004!
ICC Player of the Year 2004!
Legend of india cricket,we will miss him.#HappyBirthdayRahulDravid
HappyBirthdayRahulDravid@stuthitweeting1
Happiest Birthday to my first and forever Love
No1 can never ever replace him in my heart
Cricket is all about #RahulDravid to me
Happy Birthday Jammmmmmmyyyyyyyy
Dravid is the only player to be involved in two 300-plus ODI partnerships.
Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket in 2012 but did play in the IPL till 2014 for Rajasthan Royals. After briefly handling coaching duties with IPL franchise Delhi Capitals (then Daredevils) , Dravid took over as the head coach of India A and India U 19s. Under his guidance, the junior India sides achieved remarkable success and players like Rishabh Pant, Manish Pandey, Navdeep Saini, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal made their into the senior side.
Dravid was the coach of the India U19 side that won the World Cup in New Zealand in 2018.
Dravid is currently the head of cricketing affairs at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. (HT)
