NOW THIS might shock the fans of one of the India’s most cool and successful test cricketers – Rahul Dravid has announced his retirement from all forms of the game. Standing as a wall who would literally drain the bowlers, Dravid was one of the batsmen who would rarely gift his wicket.
The 39-year-old Dravid made his debut in 1996 and scored his first century after almost a year against South Africa in Johannesburg. He finished his career with 36 Test centuries, the fourth most for any batsman in history, and his 164 Test caps are the third most of all time behind Sachin Tendulkar (188) and Steve Waugh (168).
In 164 Tests Dravid scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31, with 36 centuries and 63 fifties. In 344 one-day internationals he amassed 10,889 runs – the seventh highest of all time - at 39.16, with 12 hundreds and 83 fifties. Dravid captained India in 25 Tests, winning eight, losing six and drawing 11, according to IBN LIVE.
“Gentleman’s game and a gentleman retires", was one of marathon of tweets, this CJ read immediately after he announced his decision. As Australian cricketer, Shane Watson, who had a good association with Dravid because played in the same team in IPL, said, “I`ve been very lucky to have a really good association with Rahul. He`s probably the nicest guy - no, he is the nicest guy - that I`ve met in cricket,” Sydney Morning Herald quoted Watson.
Terming him as a phenomenal man, Watson was all praise for the Indian wall who always steered his national team out of crises. Always drenched in sweat, one remembers Dravid raising his bat while pulling his shoulders at the completion of a century. Yes, fans would miss him in action and if not always, whenever the team was in crisis, Dravid’s memories would come alive.
Master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar didn’t fall short of words while praising his team-mate. “There was and is only one Rahul Dravid. There can be no other. I will miss Rahul in the dressing room and out in the middle," Tendulkar said. Again questioning his decision to retire at a time when he wasn’t in great touch, Australian cricketeing legend, Ian Chappel said that Dravid has given the impression that integrity was more important than riches. “He always played and captained with pride and dignity. His unselfishness and integrity deserved a dream finish. He didn't get one but Rahul can hold his head high knowing his second last series was one of his best. Fortunately, he was smart enough to realise it shouldn't lure him into playing on too long,” Chappel wrote in a column for an Indian daily, according to Zee News.
Prasing his flair to score in all conditions, former Indian coach John wright said that Dravid was one of the great players he has worked with. “He is not only a great cricketer but a great man,” Wright said.
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