Rahul Dravid | Source: X.com
Sunil Gavaskar urged the Indian government to nominate Rahul Dravid, the former coach of Team India, for the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. Gavaskar believes Dravid’s accomplishments make him a fitting candidate for India’s top civilian award.
Dravid had many heartbreaks during his playing days. The 51-year-old lost the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup as a player and led the team during their early exit in the 2007 edition. He was not selected for the 2011 ODI World Cup and did not win the IPL in any capacity.
Later, he made his return to the Indian cricket team as a head coach in 2021. Upon his return, India experienced defeats in the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup against England and in the finals of the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup in 2023. However, his coaching tenure saw the Men in Blue finally clinch the title in the T20 World Cup 2024.
“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,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-day.
Notably, Sachin Tendulkar remains the only cricketer to have received the Bharat Ratna.