Happy Birthday, Rahul Dravid: The former Indian skipper and wicketkeeper-batsman Rahul Sharad Dravid turns 52 years old today, 11 January 2025. Mr Dravid is still known as the Wall Of The Indian Cricket Team, even though he retired from all three forms of the game on 9 March 2012, when he was 39 years old.
Dravid used to make the strongest bowling attack too tired because of his defence. Rahul used to bat long and many times, it wasn’t easy to get through him. The Wall was not only a batter who could just play defensively. But he was a pure team man and a master of playing according to situations.
Dravid also scored the fastest half-century in the One Day International form of the game. In an ODI match versus New Zealand in 2003, Rahul Dravid reached his fifty in just 22 deliveries, which is the fourth fastest in the fifty overs form of the game from an Indian batter.
Dravid was also a terrific fielder as well and a wicketkeeper just because the team management wanted to make the batting order long and that’s why Rahul Dravid was asked to be the wicketkeeper batter of the side. He took six catches and affected seven stumping during his tenure as a WK batter.
We all know how Rahul Dravid was good as a batter in International Cricket. But today on his very special day, let us know Rahul Dravid as an astute coach in his coaching career. The Wall ended his coaching stint with the Indian Team as a T20 World Cup 2024 trophy winner.
Table of Contents
Happy Birthday Rahul Dravid: 3 Coaching Stints Of The Wall As An Astute Coach –
Rahul Dravid’s journey as the coach has been inspiring and it has given a huge responsibility for Gautam Gambhir to fill those huge shoes after Dravid didn’t continue as coach after India’s triumph in the United States of America and West Indies. Here Are the three coaching stints of The Wall –
1. Coach Of India’s Under 19 And India A –
From 2015 to 2019, Rahul Dravid did a wonderful job as a coach of the junior team of India A and India Under 19 teams. He identified many young and raw talents during his coaching tenure and not only that, The Wall also made sure that under his tutelage the senior team will get quality players. His development of the players wasn’t only on but off the field also.
2. Dravid’s Mentorship In The Indian Premier League –
Rahul Dravid also mentored the franchise teams of the Indian Premier League. He was the mentor of Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC). From 2014 to 2015, Dravid mentored the double R’s and from 2016 to 2017, Rahul was the mentor of DC. During those years, the Mentor made sure to develop the techniques and the sportsmanship attitude of the younger players which would help them to accept a bigger challenge. Under his mentorship, RR finished 3rd on the points table of the 2015 season.
3. A Succesful Coaching Stint With The Men In Blue –
After Dravid’s mentorship role in the cash-rich league tournament of the Indian Premier League, he was the head coach of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and his last coaching stint was a successful one with the senior team of The Men in Blue after Ravi Shastri.
Dravid developed a deep understanding of the game as a player and coach allowing the boys to flourish under his coaching stint. India reached the finals of the World Test Championship 2023, and ODI World Cup tournament finals in that same year. The Wall ended his coaching stint with the Men in Blue as a T20 World Cup Trophy winner.
