Rahul Dravid, former India captain and one of the batting greats of all time, turned 50 on Wednesday, January 11.
During his 15-year-long international cricket, Dravid scored over 24,000 runs with the help of 48 tons and 146 half-centuries. After announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in March 2012, he started his second innings as India U-19 coach in 2015.
Alongside his coaching roles, Dravid took on several mentor roles, including at the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) IPL team. He was appointed as the head coach of the senior Indian cricket team after the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup.
Currently, Dravid and his team are engaged in a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, and the hosts have shifted to Kolkata for Thursday’s game, having won the opening contest by 67 runs in Guwahati.
When the Men in Blue arrived at a hotel in Kolkata on Wednesday, Dravid cut a chocolate cake in the presence of Team India players – Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh – players and the members of the support staff.
Kishan took it as an opportunity for the famous ‘cake smash’ while the birthday celebration continued.
Star Sports India has shared a video clip of Dravid’s birthday celebration on its Twitter handle.
Team India brings in Coach Dravid's birthday with a big cake smash! 🥳#FollowTheBlues #BelieveInBlue pic.twitter.com/1T9OpJrYLy
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 11, 2023
Talking about the second ODI, Rohit Sharma & Co. is set to make only one change in their playing XI. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav comes in for injured Yuzvendra Chahal.
In the first ODI, Gill, Virat Kohli and captain Rohit shined with the bat, while Malik and Siraj were the main contributors with the ball.
The hosts are now just a win away from sealing another bilateral series against the touring Sri Lanka.
