Rahul Dravid's charity initiatives: Who is benefitting?

Rahul Dravid celebrated his 52nd birthday on Saturday, January 11. The legendary former cricketer is gearing up for his first stint as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals, a team he has mentored in the past in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Dravid is one of the finest ambassadors of the game of cricket. His passion for the sport is second to none. During his playing days, the Karnataka batter was known for his exemplary discipline and technique. He amassed 24,208 runs in his illustrious international career which spanned almost 16 years. Dravid played 166 Tests, 344 ODIs, and a solitary T20I before retiring in March 2012.

After drawing the curtains on his playing career, Dravid ventured into coaching. He mentored Rajasthan Royals for the first time in 2014. He also served as the mentor of the Indian team on their tour of England in 2014. In 2015, he was appointed as the head coach of the India U-19 and India A teams. The Indore-born eventually became the head coach of the Indian national team in November 2021. He guided the team to a famous triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Apart from his stunning achievements in the game of cricket, Dravid has shown the world that he has a heart of gold as he invests time and money in philanthropic causes.

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir should learn from his mistakes like Rahul Dravid: Mohammad Kaif

Let's take a look at Rahul Dravid's charity initiatives:

5. Promoting Junior Sports

During his time as the head coach of India's Under-19 team, he consistently helped young budding cricketers to hone their skills. He also coached the Indian team to the 2018 U-19 Cricket World Cup title. The squad featured talented cricketers like Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, and Abhishek Sharma, who are doing well for the senior Indian team at the moment.

4. Mentorship Beyond Cricket

Dravid serves on the board of advisors for the GoSports Foundation, helping develop young talent across multiple sporting disciplines. He joined the foundation in 2014. In collaboration with the GoSports Foundation, he is mentoring India's future Olympians and Paralympians as part of the Rahul Dravid Athlete Mentorship Program. Indian badminton players - Prannoy Kumar, para-swimmer Sharath Gayakwad, and golfer S. Chikkarangappa were among the first group of athletes who were mentored by Dravid.

3. Education and Sports Balance

He actively promotes the importance of balancing sports and education, emphasizing the overall development of young athletes. Dravid has said that club cricket is key for keeping cricket accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. He has also pressed for the sport to be played across the country instead of being concentrated in a few areas.

2. Supporting Unknown Athletes

Dravid has consistently advocated for the recognition of lesser-known athletes. For example, he had voiced his support for Indian rowers who achieved significant achievements which, unfortunately, went unnoticed. India is a powerhouse when it comes to the game of cricket and sometimes, the other sports do not get that much attention. Legends from the cricket fraternity like Dravid can start the change. Other cricketers can come on board.

1. When Rahul Dravid hailed CHAMPS foundation

Rahul Dravid attended an event in Mumbai last year to celebrate 25 years of the CHAMPS foundation, initiated by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar in 1999. The former praised CHAMPS's good work towards needy sportspersons, doing justice to what it stands for - Caring, Helping, Assisting, Motivating, and Promoting Sportspersons. He said that it is important to remember the contributions of players from the previous eras.