'That's the kind of character he is' - Irfan Pathan reveals Rahul Dravid took MS Dhoni and him for a movie after India's 2007 World Cup exit

Rahul Dravid is undoubtedly the name synonymous with concentration. In Test cricket, the veteran has exemplified what it means to be resilient on the field. His arms did not just make the elbow pads famous but were also instrumental in defending the lethal deliveries. With his calm and composed approach, Dravid left a legacy that goes on to inspire a lot of cricketers that wish to hold the willow and make a mark.

In the 2007 ODI World Cup, the team under Dravid had to face immense scrutiny owing to their exit from the tournament at an early stage. They were defeated by Bangladesh in the opening fixture and though the side triumphed over Bermuda by a big margin, their stint in the tournament was short-lived.

This would definitely have been a big blow for the players as it was for the fans. But whilst all the agony, Dravid tried to keep the morale of the team-high. Recalling an incident while talking to Star Sports, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan revealed that Dravid took him and MS Dhoni for a movie post their tournament exit.

“I remember a very small incident from the 2007 World Cup in West Indies. He (Dravid)came to me and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He said, ‘Look we are all upset. Let’s go for a movie. We went to watch the movie and then he said, ‘look, yes we lost the World Cup. We all wanted to make a big difference. But this is not end of it. Life is much bigger. We will come back tomorrow’. That’s the kind of character he is. He is always looking to put cricketers in a positive frame of mind. So, if someone, unfortunately, goes out of form in Sri Lanka…if that happens, he will be the first one to guide him and give confidence,” he asserted.

Rahul Dravid’s unreplaceable legacy

‘The Wall’, as he is termed for his extraordinary skills of defense, Dravid lived up to it as he was the maestro of leaving good deliveries. Whether it was Bret Lee or Shoaib Akhtar, Rahul Dravid was often a tough nut to break for any bowler. After his playing career, he took up the mantle of coaching and the results are for all to see.

Currently, Dravid is with the Indian on the tour of Sri Lanka of three ODIs and as many T20Is. With him being with the side, it is certain that it would be a great learning experience for all the players.