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Rahul Dravid emerged as one of the finest and, quite possibly, the final bastions of traditional Test match batting. His journey into the Indian cricket team was gradual yet purposeful, marked by determination. Upon his arrival, he promptly assumed leadership over an emerging Indian team that posed a formidable challenge on its home soil, no longer an easy conquest for opponents.
Due to his humble upbringing, Dravid overcame several obstacles during his career, which he did with good sportsmanship and outstanding performances. He was known as "Mr. Dependable" throughout his career, which continually demonstrated why he ought to be the cricket team's captain.
Let's look into the life and career of Rahul Dravid, the man with big shoulders.
Rahul Dravid grew up in Bangalore in a Marathi family. He completed his education at St. Joseph's Boys High School in Bangalore and received his degree in commerce from St. Joseph's College of Commerce in Bangalore. While pursuing an MBA at St. Joseph's College of Business Administration, Dravid was chosen for the Indian cricket team.
Since his early years, Dravid has had a deep love for the game of cricket. While accompanying his brother to matches, he started to show an interest in cricket. At a summer program in Chinnaswamy Stadium, former cricketer Keki Tarapore became the first to recognize his abilities.
He continued playing for other domestic championships and winning different medals starting in 1991. Due to his outstanding performance while playing for India A against England A, he quickly attracted attention.
Rahul Dravid was unstoppable once he reached his first Test tonne in his ninth match. The right-hander put on a display of drives and pull strokes while facing off in Johannesburg against players like Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald. The following challenge was a five-match Test series in the West Indies, which Dravid aced with flying colours.
He was India's leading scorer against the formidable four-pronged speed attack of the opposition, which also included Courtney Walsh, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop, and Franklyn Rose. The two visits demonstrated Dravid's resistance to good quick bowlers.
Since Sachin Tendulkar's debut, no other Indian batsman has experienced a winning streak. In 22 Tests, Dravid scored 2135 runs, including six hundreds. In the three Tests against New Zealand at home in November 1999, his Test average increased from 34.6 to 55.2, a staggering increase of 20.6 runs per dismissal from the second Test in South Africa in 1997.
A conspicuous banner sporting the words "Where is Dravid?" unfurled during the Bangalore World Quarter Final clash between Pakistan and India in 1996. This intriguing incident unfolded on March 9, 1996 marking the quarter-final showdown. Merely three weeks later, on April 3, Rahul Dravid stepped into the ODI arena for the first time, commemorating his remarkable debut.
Before making his ODI debut, Dravid was widely anticipated in his home city. Muttiah Muralitharan, however, dismissed him for just three runs. However, the then 23-year-old lived up to all the anticipation in his Test debut two more months later.
Rahul Dravid's famous cricket prowess reveals not only a terrific athlete but also a humble, committed, and principled guy. His influence stretches far beyond the confines of the sport, acting as an inspiration to all.
FAQs
What cricketing accomplishments did Rahul Dravid have?
As "The Wall," Rahul Dravid amassed a sizable number of runs for India in Test and One Day International (ODI) games. He helped India win significant contests, including the 2007 England series.
How is Rahul Dravid currently promoting cricket?
Rahul Dravid helped India's Under-19 cricket team win the World Cup as their coach after he stopped playing. Additionally, he works as a cricket coach at the National Cricket Academy.
