This article was published in the March 2012 Edition of our company's Newsletter.
The great Rahul Dravid (Indian cricketer with a moniker of 'The Wall') announced his retirement from Test cricket in March, this year. His illustrious career comprised with 164 test matches and 344 one day matches in which he was a top order batsmen, scoring prolifically for the Indian cricket team. There is a lot to learn from his professional career and following are the five things that we can learn from Rahul Dravid as professionals.
Technical genius
Rahul Dravid was a technical genius when it came to batting in test match cricket. Any youngster wanting to learn batting, watches Rahul Dravid bat in a test match. Such was his genius that the best of the bowlers in the cricket world would learn new techniques to get him out. But, his brilliant batting technique is what made him still standing on the field. We can learn from him to keep ourselves technically very sound in whatever field we are in.
Humble nature
Even after being recognized as a technical genius, Rahul Dravid was always very humble. For what he had achieved in a small age could have made him haughty, but he never talked with anyone in a harsh tone. He always was ready to help anyone when it came to cricket or otherwise. In his entire career, he has never ever been a part of any controversy. Being humble earns you respect from one and all. One thing Rahul Dravid has earned apart from everything else is the respect of his team mates, the media and the fans. Rahul Dravid teaches us how to be famous, earn success and still keep your feet firmly on the ground.
Team spirit
If one has to learn team spirit from someone in the cricket world, then Rahul Dravid is the best example. He was a wonderful team person throughout his entire career. Famous commentator Harsha Bhogle once said "If Rahul Dravid was asked to walk on water for his team, he will ask how many miles?" Even when asked to bat a step down in the batting order, he happily agreed to bat at any number in the batting order for his team. When he was asked to keep wickets in the 2003 World Cup by his captain, he did not give it a second thought and did not let it have any effect on his batting. Such was his team spirit. Rahul Dravid teaches us how to keep team before self.
Being a wonderful student
He was a wonderful student of the game. He always prepared well in advance. Whenever he went on overseas tours, he always prepared more than a month in advance. He kept learning new things from the game as he knew that bowlers around the world were always learning new techniques to get him out. He used to work harder in the nets before playing against them. He used to learn from the tour and also implement the new things he learnt into his batting. We can learn how to be a wonderful student and that virtue is a rare thing to possess in any profession. If one has to have an eye for learning, there is a lot to learn personally and professionally, every day.
Hardwork, focus and commitment
I have not seen anyone who has worked harder than Rahul Dravid. He has worked very hard for whatever he has achieved and his efforts never stopped even when he achieved a niche place in the Indian cricket team. He was always committed and focused on his job. He was very good in academics and had a great personality. Nothing stopped him achieve his ambitions to play for India. When he was criticized for his slow game in one day cricket matches, he worked very hard at it and made it a point to be one of the best players of one day cricket. Even after being a genius batsman, he was never short of commitment when it came to fielding. He is holding the record for most number of catches by a non-wicket keeper in test match cricket. Now that is some commitment! Rahul Dravid's career teaches us how to work hard, be focused and committed towards everything we do in life, professionally as well personally.
