Rahul Sharad Dravid -A great icon.The wall of indian Team

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He started playing the sport at the age of 12 and, like most Indians, his early cricket was played on the streets.

He went on to play in his school team from St Joseph 's and success greeted him at every stage, eventually forcing him to pursue the sport and put his love for academics in cold storage.


An extremely versatile cricketer, he has earned the nickname Mr Dependable. No longer is he hailed as only a master batsman - 'The Wall' bowls right-arm offbreaks and keeps wickets too, both of which he has done for India on more than one occasion, including two World Cup series.

Recently, Dravid has started a new innings in his life after marrying his family-friend, Vijeeta Pendarkar, a surgeon at St John's Hospital in Bangalore . He has a long way to go before he quits the pitch, but once he does, he would like to complete his business management from London School of Economics.

Excerpted from Rahul Dravid: A Biography by Vedam Jaishankar, published by UBS Publishers' Distributors Pvt Ltd.
Price: Rs 200. Available at Crossword book store










A young Rahul practices with a full-size bat near his house in Indiranagar House




With classmates from St Anthony's Boys School



With his childhood hero Sunil Gavaskar and brother

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With another childhood hero G R Vishwanath and brother



Receiving the Rajyotsava Award at the hands of Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna, 2002



A rare photograph of Rahul playing hockey at the Karnataka State Hockey Association astro-turf. He was a keen hockey player till the demands of cricket forced him to give up the game



In an ad for a shaving cream brand

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Rahul celebrates after hitting the winning run against Australia on the final day of the second Test match being played in Adelaide , on December 16, 2003



A family portrait: (left to right) Brother Vijay and his wife Bhavana, Vijeeta and Rahul and (seated) parents



Rahul and Vijeeta in Scotland during their honeymoon