Legendary Australian batter Matthew Hayden has showered praise on Rahul Dravid, commending his ability to navigate challenges with grace and composure throughout his career. Dravid, known for his calm demeanor on the field, was often referred to as the ‘Mr. Cool’ of Indian cricket.
Matthew Hayden praises Rahul Dravid's grace and composure
Dravid's contributions to the Indian team were immeasurable, as he frequently rescued the team from difficult situations. One such legendary knock came against Australia in 2001 at Eden Gardens, where he formed a monumental 376-run partnership with VVS Laxman. Laxman scored a remarkable 281 runs, then the highest individual score by an Indian in Test cricket, while Dravid contributed a brilliant 180-run innings. Recently, Rahul Dravid was honored with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards. Matthew Hayden was invited to speak about Dravid during the event. Hayden fondly recalled Dravid's iconic partnership with Laxman at Eden Gardens, highlighting how the duo completely thwarted the plans of Michael Slater and the Australian team.
"Sadly, from an Australian cricket point of view, it was the incredible partnership that he had up at Eden Gardens. There was nothing more sacred but that partnership with VVS Laxman. We walked onto the bus that day up in Kolkata and there was a fresh box of Cuban cigars and Michael Slater said we'll be smoking these at the end of the day and we'll have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," Hayden said during Ceat Cricket Rating Awards.
Hayden, impressed by Rahul Dravid's character, emphasised his commitment to fairness in a sport that often tempts individuals to prioritize victory at any cost. Hayden acknowledged Dravid's unwavering adherence to ethical principles, even in the face of intense competition.
"Well, you had something to say about that batting all day with VVS Laxman in an extraordinary partnership. Obviously, the one in Adelaide as well was just something else. Under pressure, Australia put everything on the line against Rahul and did it with great grace, great composure, and always a great sense of fairness. In a game, which can tempt you to win at all costs Rahul Dravid won on the principles of cricket and the principles of life," he concluded.
Rahul Dravid joins Rajasthan Royals as head coach
Rahul Dravid, recently appointed as the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, has previously been associated with the franchise as a captain and mentor. This marks his second stint with the Royals, having previously served as the team's captain before transitioning to a mentorship role in 2014. Dravid's leadership skills were instrumental in India's T20 World Cup triumph in June, where he coached the team to their first global title in 11 years under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.
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