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Rahul Dravid Turns 53: BCCI Celebrates 'The Wall' and His Legendary Career

Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid celebrated his 53rd birthday, with the BCCI leading tributes to the batting great. Renowned for his impenetrable defence and mental toughness, Dravid amassed over 24,000 international runs, standing as one of India's most reliable batters. His influence extended beyond playing, as he successfully coached the national team to an ICC T20 World Cup victory in 2024 after a near-miss in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Dravid's legacy is also cemented by his role in developing young Indian talent during his tenure with the U19 team.

Key Points: Rahul Dravid Birthday: BCCI Honors Cricket Legend's Legacy

  • Legendary Test & ODI career stats
  • Nicknamed 'The Wall' for reliability
  • Successful coaching tenure with India
  • Guided team to 2024 T20 World Cup win
2 min read

Rahul Dravid turns 53; BCCI wishes 'The Wall'

As Rahul Dravid turns 53, the BCCI and fans celebrate the iconic batter and coach's immense contributions to Indian cricket across formats.

"Known for his discipline and mental toughness - Article on Dravid's career"

New Delhi, January 11

Former India captain and former head coach Rahul Dravid turned 53 on Sunday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to X to extend its wishes to the batting great, who carved out a legendary career on the back of an impenetrable defence and a rock-solid technique. Known for his discipline and mental toughness, Dravid earned a reputation as one of the most reliable batters of his generation, consistently delivering runs for India across formats.

Fondly referred to as "The Wall", Dravid's contribution to Indian cricket goes beyond numbers. From anchoring the batting line-up during challenging overseas tours to guiding the next generation as head coach, his influence on Indian cricket has been immense.

This batting legend represented India in 164 Test matches and scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31. He has 36 centuries and 63 fifties in the longer format, with the best score of 270. He is India's second-highest run-getter in Tests and overall at fourth place.

In 344 ODIs, Dravid scored 10,889 runs at an average of 39.16. He has 12 centuries and 83 fifties in the format, with the best score of 153. He is the fifth-highest run-getter for India in ODIs and the tenth-highest overall.

He scored 31 runs in the only T20I he played for India.

He has also represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) (2008-2010) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) (2011-13) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In 89 IPL matches, he scored 2,174 runs at an average of 28.23. He has 11 fifties in the IPL and has scored his runs at a strike rate of 115.52.

Later in his career, Dravid achieved several coaching successes, including the 2018 ICC U19 World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. He also reached the finals of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, with the latter ending in a heartbreaking loss to Australia after a dominant 10-match winning streak. However, the T20 World Cup, months later in Barbados, served as a fitting send-off for the legend.

The development of prominent Indian stars such as Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan, Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Washington Sundar, and many more during his tenure as U19 coach earned him significant acclaim.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan living abroad, Dravid was the player you could always count on. When the top order collapsed, you knew 'The Wall' would hold firm. His stats are incredible, but his impact on young players like Gill and Pant is his real legacy. Respect!
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Arjun K
A player who defined grit and determination. We celebrated the six-hitters, but Dravid taught us the value of patience. His coaching brought structure and discipline. Though the 2023 ODI WC loss was painful, he got his World Cup in the end. Wishing him a great year ahead!
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Priya S
My favourite memory is him keeping wickets in the 2003 World Cup to balance the team. He did whatever was needed for India. A selfless player and a humble coach. Happy Birthday, Jammy!
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Karthik V
While his achievements are monumental, I sometimes feel his coaching was a bit too conservative, especially in the Test Championship final. But there's no denying his contribution. He built the foundation for our current batting riches. A legend no doubt.
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Michael C
The numbers are staggering. Over 24,000 international runs! In an era of Tendulkar and Ganguly, he carved his own space with sheer consistency. That technique was textbook perfect. Happy Birthday to a cricketing great.

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