Rishi Sunak, the Indian-origin Prime Minister of United Kingdom, has named Indian great Rahul Dravid as one of his favourite cricketers.
On Saturday (July 1), Sunak was the guest at BBC TMS’s lunch time show in the second Ashes Test between England and Australia at Lord’s.
The discussion was around England and Australia’s approach to the bouncer tactics at Lord’s. When asked whether they should sway or duck like Dravid, Sunak laughed and said, “Rahul Dravid is one of my favourite players really. I loved his technique. His attitude, personality.”
Widely regarded as one of the greatest batters to have played for India, Dravid amassed 13288 Test runs from 164 matches at an average of 52.31 with 36 tons and 63 half-centuries. He also holds the unique record of facing the maximum number of deliveries (31258) in Test history.
Sunak also recalled watching the legendary Sachin Tendulkar bat live in India.
“I was in India in 2008 when the terrorist attack happened. England cricket team had gone away. I had gone for friend’s wedding. But England decided to come back and play a Test in Chennai. I was there. Tendulkar scored massive in that run chase, sadly we lost and India won. It was good to see him bat,” the PM said.
In a career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs for India, scoring the world record number of runs (15921 in Tests and 18426 in ODIs) and centuries (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs).
Sachin also holds the record for being the first man to score 10,000 runs in ODI cricket, first batter to score 100 international centuries, first male cricketer to score a double ton in ODIs, most matches played in both formats and other numerous milestones.
Sunak bursts into laughter when asked if he gets as passionate about cricket as the Indian fans.
“I can express it less in this job. Before I had this job, I would do that. I am a passionate sports fan. When England got the first wicket here (at Lord’s), I was standing up and realising ‘gosh’… and sat down,” he replied.
(The Indian Express Inputs)
