Rahul Dravid has announced his retirement from both international and domestic cricket after a 16-year career that saw him acclaimed as one of the best batsmen of his era.The 39-year-old made the announcement Friday at a media conference he addressed jointly with Board of Control for Cricket in India president Narainswamy Srinivasan.
Dravid, who has already retired from one-day and Twenty20 cricket, scored five centuries in 2011 but could manage only 194 runs during India's recent 4-0 test whitewash in Australia.Dravid has scored 13,228 runs in 164 tests with 36 centuries, and 10,889 runs in 344 one-dayers with 12 centuries.
India’s 0-4 Test whitewash in Australia, at the back of an identical drubbing in England last year, had put pressure on out-of-form seniors to make way for youngsters in the team. Dravid, 39, appears set to become the first of the three senior batsmen to do so, the others being Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman.
“All I can say is there was, and is, only one Rahul Dravid and there can be no other,” Tendulkar said. “I will miss him in the dressing room and out in the middle.”
Dravid had been in sublime touch in England, where he scored three centuries, but struggled in Australia, where he was bowled six times in eight innings as his trademark watertight defence developed holes for once.
"It's time to move on," he said. "Once I was like every other boy in India with a dream to play for country."
He added: "I have had a wonderful time. Now it's time for a new generation of young players to take it forward and make history.
"It was about playing with dignity, upholding the spirit of the game. I have tried my best. I leave with sadness but also with pride."
Good By Rahul.
Dravid, who has already retired from one-day and Twenty20 cricket, scored five centuries in 2011 but could manage only 194 runs during India's recent 4-0 test whitewash in Australia.Dravid has scored 13,228 runs in 164 tests with 36 centuries, and 10,889 runs in 344 one-dayers with 12 centuries.
India’s 0-4 Test whitewash in Australia, at the back of an identical drubbing in England last year, had put pressure on out-of-form seniors to make way for youngsters in the team. Dravid, 39, appears set to become the first of the three senior batsmen to do so, the others being Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman.
“All I can say is there was, and is, only one Rahul Dravid and there can be no other,” Tendulkar said. “I will miss him in the dressing room and out in the middle.”
Dravid had been in sublime touch in England, where he scored three centuries, but struggled in Australia, where he was bowled six times in eight innings as his trademark watertight defence developed holes for once.
"It's time to move on," he said. "Once I was like every other boy in India with a dream to play for country."
He added: "I have had a wonderful time. Now it's time for a new generation of young players to take it forward and make history.
"It was about playing with dignity, upholding the spirit of the game. I have tried my best. I leave with sadness but also with pride."
Good By Rahul.
