Twitter Wishes 'The Wall' Rahul Dravid On His 45th Birthday

Messages poured in from all corners as batting legend Rahul Dravid turned 45 on Thursday (January 11). One of the finest gentlemen to grace the cricket field, the former India skipper is one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game.

Dravid started his career as a Test specialist but soon proved his detractors wrong and went on to become one of the batting mainstays in the One-Day International team. Fondly known as the Wall, Dravid served the nation for 16 years before retiring in 2012. In a team that boasted the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and other stalwarts, Dravid carved his own identity. Perhaps he was the cement that transformed the young Indian batting lineup into world class as he provided the team the much-needed solidarity.

If being patient in cricket is art then Dravid was perhaps the best artist of his generation. But being patient did not robe him of runs as he is one of the handfuls of cricketers to have scored more than 10,000 runs in Tests and ODIs.

In Tests, Dravid played 164 matches and amassed a staggering 13288 runs. He averaged over 52 in the longest format of the game and scored 36 centuries and 63 fifties with the monumental knock of 270 against Pakistan being his highest. Even in the twilight of his career, he was one of the best batsmen in the team. During the disastrous tour of England in 2011 when India where whitewashed 4-0, he amassed 461, including three hundreds. In ODIs, he scored 10,889 runs in 344 games with the help of 12 centuries and 83 fifties.

His stint as captain was also a decent one.He led India to series victories in England and the West Indies for the first time in a generation.

What made Dravid even more special is his on the field and off the field conducts. Dravid carved a special place in every fan’s heart with his attitude and fans made sure to make his special day memorable by wishing him. Here are some of the messages:

Birthday greetings to cricketing legend Rahul Dravid

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Best ODI Partnership for India:

331: Dravid/Sachin
318: Dravid/Ganguly

Best Test Partnership for India:

413: Mankad/Roy
410: Dravid/Sehwag
376: Dravid/Laxman

One common factor: Dravid

Happy Birthday Rahul Dravid!

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

https://twitter.com/Brokenpundit/status/951163524176232448

He holds the record for playing 350+ balls most times in test innings by Indian and that's why he is known as Indian wall!

Happy Birthday Rahul Dravid!

— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->0<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

"No dream is ever chased alone" ~ Rahul Dravid ?#<!---->H<!---->a<!---->p<!---->p<!---->y<!---->B<!---->i<!---->r<!---->t<!---->h<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d #<!---->G<!---->e<!---->n<!---->t<!---->l<!---->e<!---->m<!---->a<!---->n<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y

— RDian (@vaidehi_rd) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->0<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

31,258 balls and 44,152 exhausting bruising grinding minutes at the crease, nobody has spent as much time or played as many balls in the history of test cricket. Rahul Dravid, 44 today. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->o<!---->u<!---->5<!---->O<!---->k<!---->t<!---->u<!---->O<!---->9<!---->n

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Rahul Dravid's contribution to Indian team is like housewife contribution to family we will know their worth only when they are absent..

Happy Birthday Sir ?

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->0<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

?When Life Gives You Rahul Make It Dravid Not Gandhi.

Happy Birthday Sir Rahul Dravid. ??? #<!---->H<!---->a<!---->p<!---->p<!---->y<!---->B<!---->i<!---->r<!---->t<!---->h<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y<!---->R<!---->a<!---->h<!---->u<!---->l<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d #<!---->H<!---->a<!---->p<!---->p<!---->y<!---->B<!---->i<!---->r<!---->t<!---->h<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d#<!---->R<!---->a<!---->h<!---->u<!---->l<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->l<!---->L<!---->k<!---->2<!---->e<!---->K<!---->B<!---->j<!---->2<!---->I

— Ravindra Jadeja Fan (@SirJadeja_Real) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->0<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Wishing A Very Happy B'day To The Wall Of Cricket, Rahul Dravid. #<!---->H<!---->a<!---->p<!---->p<!---->y<!---->B<!---->i<!---->r<!---->t<!---->h<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d. ??? #<!---->R<!---->a<!---->h<!---->u<!---->l<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->y<!---->b<!---->w<!---->g<!---->c<!---->y<!---->m<!---->l<!---->E<!---->T

— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

"Everyone praises Sachin Tendulkar. He may be a genius in his own right, but in my book, Rahul Dravid is the artist. Dravid’s defence tactics, his strokes, his cuts, his grace are truly amazing. I’d like to meet the chap sometime and take my hat off to him."
~ Peter O’ Toole

— Chinmay Jawalekar (@CricfreakTweets) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->0<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Some of the great walls around the world. Rahul Dravid ❤️ #<!---->H<!---->a<!---->p<!---->p<!---->y<!---->B<!---->i<!---->r<!---->t<!---->h<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d #<!---->H<!---->a<!---->p<!---->p<!---->y<!---->B<!---->i<!---->r<!---->t<!---->h<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y<!---->R<!---->a<!---->h<!---->u<!---->l<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->j<!---->Z<!---->r<!---->j<!---->4<!---->Q<!---->v<!---->u<!---->M<!---->z

— Pinch Hitter (@pinch_hitt_) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->0<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Rahul Dravid must be the only cricketer who gained more fans after the retirement.#<!---->H<!---->a<!---->p<!---->p<!---->y<!---->B<!---->i<!---->r<!---->t<!---->h<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y<!---->D<!---->a<!---->y<!---->R<!---->a<!---->h<!---->u<!---->l<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->0<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Only Rahul Dravid can do this. ?✌️ p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->U<!---->O<!---->I<!---->L<!---->f<!---->B<!---->6<!---->I<!---->4<!---->S

— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

Happy Birthday, Rahul Dravid; India's best batsman and our greatest team player.

— Sachin Kalbag (@SachinKalbag) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->8

https://twitter.com/manasabkrao/status/951314167826296832