Born 11 January 1973 in Bangalore, Karnataka into a Marathi family. Made his domestic debut for Karnataka, impressing selectors with his technique. Debuted in ODIs in 1996, followed by a Test debut same year against England

 

🏏 Rahul Dravid – The Wall of Indian Cricket

Early Life & Rise

Batting Profile & Records

• Known as “The Wall”, Dravid was renowned for his defensive grit, impeccable technique, and ability to occupy the crease.

• He is:

  • 4th all-time Test run-scorer: 13,288 runs at 52.31 avg, with 36 centuries in 164 Tests (dailyexcelsior.com, espncricinfo.com).

  • Scored 10,889 ODI runs at 39.16 avg with 12 centuries .

  • Holds 210 catches in Tests — record for a non-wicketkeeper (en.wikipedia.org).

  • Never dismissed for a golden duck in 286 Test innings (en.wikipedia.org).

  • First player to score a Test century in all 10 Test nations (en.wikipedia.org).

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Iconic Innings

• Dravid–Laxman epic at Eden (2001): His 180 laid foundation for the famous 376-run stand (en.wikipedia.org).

• His 270 vs Pakistan (2004) in Rawalpindi was the fourth-highest by an Indian (en.wikipedia.org).

• Top scorer in the 1999 World Cup with 461 runs (sportsmatik.com).

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Captaincy & Leadership

• Served as India’s Test and ODI captain in early 2000s.

• Led India to landmark series wins in South Africa (2006) and England (2007) (sportsmatik.com).

• Known for calm, principled leadership.

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Awards & Honours

• Wisden Cricketer of the Year (2000)

• 2004 ICC Cricketer & Test Player of the Year, first recipient of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (en.wikipedia.org).

• Arjuna Award (1998), Padma Shri (2004), Padma Bhushan (2013), and ICC Hall of Fame inductee (2018) (britannica.com).

• Polly Umrigar Award (2010–11) (en.wikipedia.org).

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Coaching & Mentorship

• Mentor for Rajasthan Royals (IPL) from 2013, later became head coach ahead of 2025 season (reuters.com).

• Coached India U-19 (won 2018 World Cup), India A, then directed the National Cricket Academy (britannica.com).

• Took over as India head coach in 2021, leading to a T20 World Cup win in 2024 .

• Stepped down post tournament to pursue roles with IPL and mentoring .

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Style & Legacy

• A cornerstone of modern Indian batting, Dravid is celebrated for his:

  • Unshakeable defense, sharp cricketing mind, and prolific partnerships (esp. with Tendulkar) (sportskeeda.com).

  • Discipline and professionalism — he emphasized fitness and integrity throughout his career .

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📊 Career Snapshot

Format	Matches	Runs	Average	100s	50s	Catches
Tests	164	13,288	52.31	36	63	210
ODIs	344	10,889	39.16	12	83	196

— Stats via ESPN Cricinfo (espncricinfo.com).

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🎯 Why Dravid Matters

Rahul Dravid symbolizes consistency, humility, and mental toughness. He was a bridge between eras, playing pivotal roles in pivotal matches, nurturing younger generations, and coaching teams to success. His respect crosses team rivalries—his character and contributions made him one of cricket’s truly all-time greats.

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