Rahul Dravid To Get Bharat Ratna? Sunil Gavaskar Wants Highest Civilian Award For Indian Legend

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who is one of the greatest cricketers of all time, feels former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid deserves to be honoured with the Bharat Ratna award. 51-year-old Dravid, who played in 164 Tests, 344 ODIs, and 1 T20I for India during his 16-year-long international career, also served as India’s head coach from November 2021 to June 2024. Under his guidance, India ended the 11-year wait for an ICC trophy last month in the West Indies by winning the T20 World Cup title.

Impressed by Dravid’s contribution to Indian cricket in the last 30 years, first as a player and then as head coach of the India U-19 and senior men’s cricket teams, Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-day that the former India captain deserves the highest civilian award in India.

“It would be apt if the Government of India honours him with the Bharat Ratna, for that’s what he has truly been. Great player and captain of the country with famous away series wins in the West Indies when wins there really meant something and also win in England being only among the three Indian captains to have won a Test match series there, a wonderful talent groomer in his earlier role of the chairman of the National Cricket Academy and then as coach of the senior team.”

“Dravid’s achievements have given joy across all party lines and across caste, creed, communities and brought untold happiness to the whole country. Surely, that deserves the highest accolade the country can give. C’mon, everybody, please join me in asking the government to recognise one of the greatest sons of India. Bharat Ratna, Rahul Sharad Dravid. Sounds terrific, doesn’t it?” he added.

Dravid became India captain in 2005 and led India to Test series wins in the West Indies in 2006 and in England during the summer of 2007. He retired from international cricket in 2012 after scoring 13,288 runs in Tests, which is the second-highest total of runs by an Indian in the five-day format of the game. In the 50-over format of the game as well, Dravid scored 10,889 runs.