Published: Jan 11, 2017, 12:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 11, 2017, 12:58 PM (IST)
India’s batting legend Rahul Dravid, known as ‘The Wall’, celebrates his 44th birthday on January 12. Dravid, known for his resolute batting technique is considered as one of the most respected cricketers of his era. Dravid, born in a Marathi family in Indore and hailing from Tamil Nadu, entered the cricket arena at the age of 12. He started representing Karnataka in Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 cricket. Dravid is fourth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket after Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis. He has also scored 10,000 runs both in Tests and ODIs. Cricketers across the globe poured in messages to wish Dravid.
He played in the V.
But was the biggest C. Commitment, Class,Consistency,Care. Proud to have played together.
Happy Birthday #RahulDravid . pic.twitter.com/eflnb49V6v— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 11, 2017
Happy Birthday #RahulDravid .
One of the most selfless, likeable human being ever and the biggest reason to love the name “Rahul” pic.twitter.com/QrS6D8JVxk— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 11, 2017
Happy Birthday Rahul Bhai. Thank you for your encouragement & for being a great role model for all the budding cricketers out there
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 11, 2017
Wishing this GENTLEMAN a very happy birthday,I was lucky to have a senior player like him #RahulDravid pic.twitter.com/qtvBrZEoP6
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 11, 2017
Happy Birthday #RahulDravid. India’s Most Elegant And Hardworking Player Ever.
RT If You Miss Him In Team India. #HappyBirthdayDravid pic.twitter.com/c4VYV69a1t
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) January 11, 2017
The year starts. Rahul Dravid comes in pretty early. And then, things are good.
Like in most test matches.
Happy Birthday #RahulDravid— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 11, 2017
Most runs in a calendar year in all intl for India
2626 Rahul Dravid (1999)
2595 V Kohli (2016)
2580 S Ganguly (1999)
2541 S Tendulkar (1998— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 11, 2017
Here’s wishing #RahulDravid a very Happy Birthday!
Share with us you favorite memory of ‘The Wall’ #HappyBirthdayDravid pic.twitter.com/q6uRfuaVVf
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) January 11, 2017
Here’s wishing a very happy birthday to former #TeamIndia skipper Rahul Dravid #Legend #Dravid pic.twitter.com/Wniqv7cTPc
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2017
True gentleman & GREAT WALL of #Indian #cricket Wishing #RahulDravid a very Happy Birthday. DID YOU KNOW once he took 2 wickets in 2 balls! pic.twitter.com/gPZ6iYijRg
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) January 11, 2017
A very happy birthday to a special teammate and a legend of the game! Happy Birthday #RahulDravid , wish you all the best in the year ahead. pic.twitter.com/FLHgLthbCV
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 11, 2017
His teammate then Virender Sehwag was the first to wish Dravid in his usual way. It was followed by Mohammad Kaif, Irfan Pathan, Virat Kohli and others. Dravid, who is known for his resilience in Test cricket, holds a unique record of never being dismissed for a golden duck in 286 Test innings which he has played. He batted for 835 minutes in Adelaide that India won in 2003. Dravid had then scored 233 and 72 not out. It was followed by 740 minutes at Rawalpindi to help India clinch the series against Pakistan.
ALSO READ: Rahul Dravid: 10 little-known facts and anecdotes about the great Indian batsman
Dravid is also the only Indian cricketer to score century in all ten Test-playing nation. Dravid has led India for two years following Sourav Ganguly’s axing in 2005, which did not prove to be successful for him as a batsman. However, it was under Dravid’s captaincy that India won away Test series in England and West Indies.
His retirement from international cricket came after a poor series against Australia in 2011-12. He was criticised enough that pushed the dignified man to retire. Dravid held to cricket through IPL playing for Rajasthan Royals, eventually coaching the side. He remained a mentor until 2015 and was chosen as head coach for Delhi Daredevils (DD) in 2016.
ALSO READ: Happy Birthday, Rahul Dravid! India’s former captain turns 44
He was also chosen as the India A and India Under-19 head coach by BCCI in 2015. Under his guidance India U-19 team reached the final of ICC World Cup, which they lost against West Indies. Dravid added another feather in his cap when India A won the Quadrangular series that was held in Australia in 2016, and then the U-19 Asia Cup in the same year.
