Former India cricketer Rahul Dravid was widely regarded among the best batters in the world in the 2000s. With over 10000 runs each in Test and ODI format, Dravid was a very technically sound batsman and used to enthrall the audience with his classical shots. He received the title of the "Wall of Cricket" for his solid defense, especially in Test cricket. Ultimately, on September 16, 2011, Rahul Dravid played his last-ever ODI for India to bid adieu to international cricket.
During the 5th ODI against England at Cardiff on that day, Rahul Dravid walked out to bat in the Indian jersey for one last time. Coming to bat at number three, Dravid played an impressive knock of 69(79) runs with four boundaries in his last international game. Apart from that, Virat Kohli’s 107(93) runs, skipper MS Dhoni’s quickfire half-century (50* off 26) took India to a total of 304/6 in their 50 overs. However, it wasn’t enough for India as England chased the target of 241 runs as per the DLS method in 32.2 overs losing four wickets, to win the match.
Rahul Dravid Career
Rahul Dravid made his debut for the Indian cricket team in an ODI match against Sri Lanka in Singapore on April 3, 1996. From then, he went on to play 164 Tests, 344 ODIs, and one T20I for India, amassing 24208 runs in all three formats combined. Rahul Dravid was also th captain of the Indian team in Tests and ODIs for quite some time in the 2000s. During his captaincy, India won the Test series in West Indies and England. However, the Men in Blue couldn’t do any wonders under Dravid’s captaincy as they were knocked out from the group stage in the ODI World Cup 2007.
Post his cricketing career, Rahul Dravid took over the coaching duties. He was the head coach of the Indian Under-19 team that won the Under-19 World Cup in 2018. Dravid also served as a head coach of the senior Indian cricket team from 2021-2024. In his last assignment as a head coach, India clinched the T20 World Cup title in West Indies on June 29, 2024. Now, Dravid has recently been re-appointed as a head coach of Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2025 after fulfilling the same role in 2014 and 2015.
