Rahul Dravid: An idol worth emulating

Rahul Dravid scored a classy 95 against England on his test debut in 1996, but, his innings was overshadowed by Saurav Ganguly's 131 on debut. That was to be the hallmark of Dravid in the years to come - playing consistently well yet keeping a low profile.

If cricket is a gentleman's game then Dravid is personification of its spirit. He is a perfect role model for all those who want to achieve something worthwhile in life.

There is a lot one can learn from Dravid's career. First and foremost is the devotion to your cause. Dravid was a perfect team man. Individual records just came his way, he never played for one. Only a Dravid can be called back to the pavilion batting on 91 (Australian tour 2003), and the innings declared. The captain Ganguly knew Rahul won't complaint, and true to his belief Dravid showed no disappointment. His opponents too acknowledged the fact. "If I have to name anyone to bat for my life, it'll be Jacques Kallis or Rahul Dravid," said Brian Lara.

You can never be bigger than the cause!

Second is to be prepared for any eventuality. Dravid opened the innings, played on almost every other batting slot, and kept the wickets when the need arose. He took everything in stride and with lots of sincerity. So much that Navjot Sidhu said, "Rahul Dravid could walk on broken glass if his team asks him to."

Every task is an opportunity to learn something new!

Third is consistency. Like a soldier Dravid marched on silently, scoring centuries after centuries on tough wickets and difficult situations. His record on foreign pitches is phenomenal. In Ian Chappel's words, "Team in trouble? Whom do you turn to? Rahul Dravid!" No wonder he became a 'wall' of resistance to the opposition.

Doing quality work is good but making it a habit is even better!

Fourth is excellence. 'Leading from the front' is a cliche but Dravid did exactly that during his playing days. He quit the captaincy of the Indian cricket team after the 2007 Cricket World Cup debacle. He took the onus upon himself rather than offering excuses or blaming others. As Shahrukh Khan tweeted post Dravid's retirement, "They say sports served society by providing vivid examples of excellence. To me the most vivid and dependable has to be Rahul Dravid."

Leadership is not just about leading people to victories but also to be gracious in defeat!

Sanjay Manjrekar, former Indian batsman, says about Dravid, "Not often do you find a person as exceptional as his achievements." And so, of all the centuries and catches Dravid took in his career, the one thing he would always be remembered for is integrity.