An Ode to Rahul Dravid: The Wall of Indian Cricket

An Ode to Rahul Dravid: The Wall of Indian Cricket

Rahul Dravid, one of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game of cricket, is often referred to as ‘The Wall’. His sheer determination, technique, mental strength, and unshakable composure has won him the admiration and respect of players, pundits, and fans alike. 

Dravid was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, to a middle-class family in 1973. At a young age, he moved to Bangalore, Karnataka, where his father worked as an engineer. He grew up in Bangalore, with cricket playing a major part in his life. He joined the St. Joseph's Boys' High School cricket team and even captained the team at the Under-15 level.

Dravid made his international debut in 1996, during India’s tour of England. His first big performance came against Australia in the 1998 tour, where he scored a match-winning 95 runs. His Test match average of 53.92 is the third-highest ever, only behind Don Bradman and Garfield Sobers.

In the One-Day Internationals, Dravid holds the record for most catches with a total of 181. His highest ODI score of 153 came against New Zealand, and he is the only batsman to have scored 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs.

Dravid is also known for his off-field contributions to the game. He is the current chairman of the Cricket Advisory Committee, and he is also the mentor of the Delhi Capitals and the India-A side.

His sheer dedication and commitment to the game of cricket has earned him the respect of players and fans alike, and he will long be remembered as one of the finest cricketers to have ever played the game.