Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid my best students, says Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar says he won't dare pick the better player and that instead of comparing the two legends, one must see how they have combined to dominate cricket.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar hailed Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid's contribution to Indian and international cricket. He however told NDTV that choosing the better player is impossible.
Both Tendulkar and Dravid played their final T20 match on Sunday in the Champions League T20 title clash. They may have been playing the match for opposite teams but Gavaskar said their combination for India has been phenomenal. "Both are my absolute favourites. I would not even dare to take sides because it's like the left and the right hand and you need both your hands to perform. And they themselves agree - Rahul at three, Sachin at four have saved India so many times," he said. "The two have fed off each other and have been wonderful," he added. Dravid and Tendulkar hold the record for most number of century partnerships - 20 - in Tests.
Dravid, in particular, did get Gavaskar's special accolade for his leadership skills. Leading his team through the Indian Premier League spot-fixing controversy was a brave and successful endeavor, he said. "If you look at how he rallied the team after what happened in May, to be able to build the confidence among each other in the dressing room is a huge thing." (Also read: Dravid's message - stay vigilant to keep cricket clean)
Gavaskar further said that he feels Dravid will be an able cricket administrator, moving forward. "Because he is such a great one for preparation, I think somebody like him would be fantastic as far as administration is concerned. He would certainly bring a lot of thought into it and that's what every administration needs," he said.