6 Indian legends who bid goodbye this decade 

#2. Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid

The Wall of Indian cricket for 16 years, Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket in March 2012. In a decorated career, Dravid amassed 13,288 runs in 164 Tests with 36 centuries. Often termed as too slow for ODI cricket, Dravid proved his critics wrong, finishing with 10,889 runs in 334 games at an average of 39.16, notching up 12 hundreds and 83 fifties. Dravid was handed a surprise T20I debut in England in 2011, and hit 31 runs with three consecutive sixes in his only T20I.

In an era of swashbuckling Sehwag, supreme Sachin and serene Laxman, Dravid was Mr. Consistent, coming up with the goods under pressure on more occasions than not. His finest moment came at Adelaide in 2003 when he notched up 233 and 72 not out in India’s memorable 4-wicket triumph. He also scored a marathon 270, batting for 740 minutes, in the Rawalpindi Test of 2004.

For most part of his career though, Dravid was the perfect foil to the lead hero. It all began at Lord’s in 1996 when he made 95 on debut even as Sourav Ganguly scored 131. In the Nottingham Test, Ganguly made 136, Sachin Tendulkar 177 while Dravid scored 84. The legend’s finest support act was undoubtedly at Kolkata against Australia in 2001 when Dravid (180) partnered Laxman (281) in 376-run game turning stand. Playing second fiddle worked well for Dravid he could stay in his own zone.

Dravid was part of the Indian team that made the 2003 World Cup final, and was also the captain of the Test team that beat England in England in 2007. After managing only 194 runs in his 8 innings in Australia during the 2011-12 series, he decided to call time on his career. Dravid was bowled 6 times in eight innings in his last series. The Wall had been finally breached.