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Former team mates Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni paid wealthy tributes to Rahul Dravid for his massive contribution to Indian cricket.


Ganguly called Dravid a "huge pillar" of Indian cricket and also a great ambassador of the gentleman's game. "He was one of the huge pillars through which Indian cricket went forward. He is one of the greatest batsmen not just in India but in world cricket," Ganguly said. “Dravid played in an age when Indian cricket went from strength to strength." Ganguly rated Dravid's 180 against Australia at the Eden Gardens, along with Laxman (281), in 2001 as his best.

Ganguly also admitted that he was lucky to have Dravid as his vice-captain when he led the Indian team for five years. "I was lucky to have you as vice-captain for five years. During my captaincy, you and John Wright did a lot of work behind the doors to build a strong Indian team. You are one of the best number three batsmen I have ever seen," said Ganguly.

* Dravid said that India's ODI World Cup last year was a "special moment" for him.


Kumble thanked Dravid for effecting his 55 dismissals. "It's been a great partnership with you Rahul. When we look back we can gladly say we will only remember the amazing memories”.


"It is a great occasion in the presence of the legends and the Indian greats of cricket to celebrate the end of the memorable career of one of the all-time greats of the game. A great friend and a colleague. "

Laxman called Dravid a selfless cricketer.

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Rahul Dravid's retirement from international cricket was announced at his home ground, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, in a function room filled with more than 200 people. Family, team-mates, friends, KSCA members, officials and reporters had gathered - as did fans watching a live broadcast on national television - to mark the end of an extraordinary career and a "reassuring presence" in the Indian team.

He may not have started out as a natural limited-over cricketer, but Rahul Dravid will end his career in coloured clothing as one of the most successful and adaptable performers of all time. Speaking ahead of his final ODI, Dravid said: “People might have said at some stage that I will have a successful Test career, but not many people would have said that I’ll play that many one-dayers at the start of my career. I wouldn’t have said that about myself.” Excerpts.

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It does not feel like it’s the end since I will be playing Test cricket. Obviously I won’t be playing any more one-day cricket, which I thought I would not be playing two years ago. Nothing is really going to change for me against what I have been doing in the last two-and-a-half years when I was just playing Test cricket. At first I found it a bit hard adjusting, with the big gaps between Test series.

It used to become a little difficult to get straight into Test matches particularly since there are not a lot of side games on tours at the present time. Reaching the 2003 World Cup final. Also watching India win the World Cup this year was very satisfying for me as I had played with so many of the players. Watching Kapil Dev lift the 1983 World Cup was a enormous inspiration for me as a 10-year-old. The 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, where we did not qualify for the Super Eights. We had a team that could have done better than we did. But that is life, you move on.

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