Rahul Dravid. (Source – Getty Images)
Rahul Dravid has seen a lot of heartbreaks in his professional career. As a player, the 51-year-old lost the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup and later, suffered a group-stage exit in the 2007 edition, in which he also led the team. He was not considered for selection in the 2011 ODI World Cup and also failed to win the IPL both as a player and coach.
He made his return to the national team in 2021 and since then, India lost the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup against England and in the finals of the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup in 2023. However, he has finally tasted cup success as under his coaching, the Men in Blue lifted the T20 World Cup in 2024.
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As a player, Dravid scored plenty of runs and took India to greater heights. Keeping his contribution in mind, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar asked the Government of India to consider Dravid for Bharat Ratna. Notably, it is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India and Gavaskar feels that Dravid has achieved enough to be honoured with the same.
“It would be apt if the Government of India honours him with the Bharat Ratna, for that’s what he has truly been. Great player and captain of the country with famous away series wins in the West Indies when wins there really meant something and also win in England being only among the three Indian captains to have won a Test match series there, a wonderful talent groomer in his earlier role of the chairman of the National Cricket Academy and then as coach of the senior team,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-day.
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Notably, Sachin Tendulkar remains the only cricketer to have been awarded with Bharat Ratna. Gavaskar noted that Dravid’s achievements have given joy across all party lines and caste, creed, and communities and brought untold happiness to the whole country which is why he should be considered.