Sheer hardwork brought Rahul Dravid close to Sachin Tendulkar, says VVS Laxman

Considered as one of the last classical Test match batsmen, Rahul Dravid’s rise in international cricket was more methodical than meteoric. Sheer hardwork and the constant push for improvement had made him the man he is now. Gifted with an orthodox batting technique, Dravid held together the Indian batting lineup for a long time allowing the others to play freely.

Laxman, who had batted with Dravid many a time to bail India out of the soup, said, “Sachin (Tendulkar) was already an established cricketer when me and Dravid joined the team. Dravid sometimes underestimates his own talent, but if he has come somewhere close to Sachin it was sheer hard work,” reported The Indian Express.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag had refreshingly different styles of expressing themselves with the willow. But, Sehwag had rewritten the rules of batsmanship with his exceptional hitting skills. Laxman feels that Sehwag and Dravid were the two who had a great impact on India’s performance overseas.

“Every player had their space. And, I feel anyone who had great impact in India’s performance overseas was Viru (Virender Sehwag) and Dravid,” said Laxman.

Laxman’s 281 against Australia in 2001 at the Eden Gardens was the innings that changed the landscape of Indian cricket, but Laxman, with all his modesty, said that it was the situation that made milestones. 

“Milestones are by product of the situation you are in. What you do under pressure is what matters. My 281 may be remembered by all for that innings helped India beat Australia, but I have played many other meaningful innings in which my score may not be in hundreds,” Laxman stated.