[In Picture] Rohit Sharma's wife Ritika Sajdeh wishes Rahul Dravid on birthday with iconic throwback

Former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid is celebrating his 52nd birthday on Saturday, January 11, and among those sending their wishes is Rohit Sharma’s wife, Ritika Sajdeh.

The wife of India’s ODI and Test skipper took to Instagram to share a picture from the 2024 T20 World Cup celebrations, where India triumphed over South Africa in the final to clinch the title.

In the photo, Rahul Dravid is seen with Rohit, Ritika, and their daughter Samaira. Ritika captioned the Instagram story:

“Happiest Birthday Rahul bhai.”

Screenshot of Ritika Sajdeh's Instagram story (Image via Instagram-@ritssajdeh)

Rahul Dravid played 164 Tests for India, amassing 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31, with 63 fifties and 36 centuries, including a highest score of 270. Dravid continues to be India's second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket and the fourth-highest overall.

At the same time, the 52-year-old also played 344 ODIs, scoring 10,889 runs at an average of 39.16, including 83 fifties and 12 centuries. Additionally, he appeared in one T20I, where he scored 31 runs.

During his time as head coach of India, he led the team to the finals of both the ICC World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup. Under his leadership, the Men in Blue clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados, ending an 11-year drought for an ICC trophy.

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“I’ll miss him as a person” - When Rahul Dravid showered praise on Rohit Sharma after the 2024 T20 World Cup

India won the 2024 T20 World Cup with Rohit Sharma as captain and Rahul Dravid as head coach. Following the final, Dravid expressed his admiration for the Mumbai cricketer, mentioning that he would miss him as a person.

Dravid said via ESPNCricinfo:

“I’ll miss him as a person. Forget the cricket and forget the captain and everything. I hope we’ll still be friends. So, I’m probably not going to miss that. But I think what’s really impressed me in all of this, has been just the kind of person he is, the kind of respect he’s shown me.”

“The kind of care and commitment he’s had to the team, the kind of energy he’s had to spend. And he’s never backed down from it. So, for me, I think it’s the person that I will remember the most. His cricketing, he’ll be a great captain, he’ll be a great player and he’ll score runs and he’ll win trophies. But, I think it’s the person that I will remember the most," he added.

Rohit also announced his retirement from T20I cricket following the 2024 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies.