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Ajinkya Rahane shares how Rahul Dravid guided him in his early career, recalling memorable moments from India and Rajasthan Royals in a heartfelt LinkedIn post.
Rahul Dravid was the head coach during the 2023 WTC (Picture credit: Instagram @ajinkyarahane)
Star India batter Ajinkya Rahane has narrated how he closely followed Rahul Dravid during his early days in the national team, as well as certain incidents from franchise cricket, adding how Dravid was a ‘guide’ to him, in a heartfelt post on LinkedIn.
Rahane has narrated how he kept waiting for his much-awaited Test debut but even as he warmed the benches, he followed Dravid’s processes up close.
Rahane finally made his Test debut against Australia in 2013, a year after the former Indian head coach announced his retirement from the longest format.
“When I travelled to Australia for the 2011-12 Test series there were days when the wait for my debut Test felt endless. But I spent a lot of time observing Rahul bhai in the dressing room and the nets,” Rahane wrote on his LinkedIn post.
The 2011-12 Test tour of Australia was Dravid’s last. India were whitewashed 4-0 in the series and he scored 194 runs in four matches at an average of 24.25 with just one half-century to his name.
Rahane also reminisced about his T20I debut, which was the only 20-over international game that Dravid played.
“And then there was Manchester 2011, his first and only T20I and my debut in T20 for India. I still smile thinking about it: Rahul bhai hitting three sixes in that innings and enjoying his batting even after scoring tons of international runs,” Rahane wrote.
In that game, after Parthiv Patel’s dismissal in the fifth over, Dravid and Rahane built a 65-run partnership for the second wicket before Dravid was dismissed by Ravi Bopara for a 21-ball 31.
Rahane has also lauded Dravid’s composure while playing franchise cricket, speaking about their partnership at the Rajasthan Royals.
“Later opening with him at the Rajasthan Royals felt reassuring. I was settling into my role as an opener and even in the fast-paced nature of T20s he carried himself with such calm,” Rahane wrote.
September 08, 2025, 18:51 IST
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