Pujara wants to inculcate Dravid's positive attitude

India's veteran batsman, Rahul Dravid, who retired from International cricket recently, has been, and will remain to be a source of motivation and inspiration for emerging cricketers.

The 24-year-old middle order batsman from Gujarat, Cheteshwar Pujara, who made his Test debut for India in October 2010 against Australia at Bangalore, said that the positive attitude of 'the Wall' towards the game inspired him a lot and he wants to inculcate those values in his cricket as well.

"(One thing you would take from Dravid's game) I would say his positive attitude towards the game,” said the young Indian batsman, who has so far played three Tests for India.

“A bowler has to work hard to get his wicket. That quality I admire a lot,” he added further.

Reminiscing about his first encounter with the departing batting stalwart, Pujara said that he was playing for Karnataka against Saurashtra in Rajkot and wanted to take tips from Dravid to press his claims for selection in the national team. The very first impression Pujara had of his idol, was a supportive and friendly person, who pointed out the subtle weaknesses of his juniors to improve their batting.

Abhinav Mukund, the 22-year-old left-handed Tamil Nadu batsman also heaped praise on the former middle-order batting mainstay of India, calling him a “very, very meticulous man” who is known for his professionalism and ethics. The Chennai batsman said that he would like to have Dravid’s temperament.

"He is a very, very meticulous man,” said the left-handed top-order batsman who made his Test debut against West Indies in June last year.

“He is very careful about all the cricketing gear in his kit bag. I saw it when I started playing alongside Dravid. He is a man of order, I think. He is known for his professionalism and his ethics so it comes alongside his character,” he added further.

Mukund, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), has so far played five Tests for India scoring 211 runs, including a career best 62, his only international half century.

Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane also lauded Dravid, saying that the veteran taught them to value their wickets and not giving up under any circumstances.