The Wall !

He's been the invincible wall that tirelessly tested the opposition.  His stylish strokeplay has been a joy to watch!  His stoic patience has been his trademark.  His humility & wisdom only grew with him.  He's personified sportsmanship and class!  Beyond cricket, he's a thinker, a philosopher.  A capricorn to the core, statistics & records underplay the complete essence of this gentleman. 

We are surely going to miss this stylish batsman as he bids adieu to international test cricket.  There are players who come and go, and there are those whose names are etched in gold in history books.  Rahul Dravid is a name that will never be forgotten, because he gave us more than just the strokes, more than just the centuries, more than just the victories.  The sportsmanship, putting the team above self attitude, the never-say-die approach, the grit, the never ending perseverence, the dignity, the wisdom, the discipline - there is so much more than the bat and ball that he brought with him, and gave to his game - if at all there is a tag like "The Buddha in Sports" - I would confer that on Rahul Dravid.

Some words of wisdom from this great player will prove this -
"We must never forget that what we do as professionals is easily carried over into the amateur game, in every way - batting, bowling, fielding, appealing, celebration, dissent, argument."

"I know it is utterly fanciful to expect professional cricketers to play the game like amateurs; but the trick I believe is taking the spirit of the amateur - of discovery, of learning, of pure joy, of playing by the rules - into our profession."

""the respect in your dressing room and that of your opponents is what matters"

As RD quits Test Cricket, there is no doubt that he has earned respect & admiration from one and all!
Well Done!  You are a legend!