For more than a decade until recently when he retired, Rahul Dravid has been synonymous with some of the nicest things in Indian cricket. While millions of fans across the world rained plaudits on Dravid, Chennai had its own reasons to celebrate its special connection with the legend.

For, it was with India Cements in the competitive Chennai league that Dravid plied his vocation in the early 90s. Long since he stopped playing in the league, his name still continues to find a place in the roster of at least one of the India Cements-owned teams.

Former India cricketer V.B. Chandrasekhar, who roped him into the club in 1994, admits to not seeing signs of Dravid's lustrous career back then. “India Cements were struggling to stay in the first division and so we were in a rebuilding phase. We had drafted in a few outstation players. Dravid was brought in to lend solidity. To be honest, I don't think any of us thought then that he would go on to play for India for 16 years. But he put so much work into it, so much dedication. Even when the boys at India Cements used to go out of town during the weekend, Dravid would stay back to work with the bowling machine.”

Dignity personified It was D.J. Gokulakrishnan, former Tamil Nadu cricketer and currently bowling coach of the side, who went to “pick Dravid up” as he arrived in Chennai to play in the city league. “He was, in fact, my first wicket in first-class cricket,” smiles Gokulakrishnan, who was Dravid's team-mate in India Cements. “When I went to pick him up, the first place he wanted to go to was the cricket ground. He kept enquiring about the cricketing facilities in the city. The best part about him was his friendly, helpful nature. He could handle everyone, regardless of the person's stature, in the most dignified manner.”

Ex-Tamil Nadu batsman Sridharan Sharath shares a long association with the master batsman as well. Sharath, along with Gokulakrishnan, was part of the India under-19 team — led by Dravid — that played ‘Tests' against the New Zealand youth side. “We have been playing together right from our under-15 days. In the National camp conducted by Hanumant Singh and Keiki Tarapore, Rahul would make a note of his shortcomings in his diary and work on rectifying them. He was always very well-behaved and disciplined.”

According to Chandrasekhar, Dravid was part of his extended family. “Whenever the India Cements team went to Bangalore, we would be invited to dinner by Rahul's parents. I have interacted a lot more with them than him,” he laughs. “No matter what he went on to achieve, he remembered everyone who stood by him in his early days. Two days before he announced his retirement, he called me to inform me. I told him, ‘You are doing the right thing. Your family needs you.'”

Gokulakrishnan remembers an incident that is illustrative of Dravid's humility and keenness to learn. “After a game in KSCA, Rahul felt he needed to improve on his sweep shot. He found that Rizwan Shamshad (former Uttar Pradesh cricketer) was good at playing the sweep and requested him to teach the stroke. Rahul had, by then, started playing for India but he never shied away from learning. I have had many good conversations with him about philosophy and life. He still keeps track of local cricket and always has time for friends.”

Enriching personality The last time Sharath spoke to Dravid was when the former announced his decision to retire from first-class cricket. “Rahul said I was unfortunate not to have played for India. He's an absolutely great guy and a perfect role model. For many, his runs in Test cricket would count as a sign of greatness. But to me, the near-11,000 runs he scored in ODIs would rank higher, for he had to work harder towards it.”

The most glowing compliment, perhaps, comes from Chandrasekhar. “He had great control over his emotions. He came to Chennai to become a better cricketer but it was I, who became enriched. If I had imbibed some of his qualities, I would have become a better cricketer and a better human being.”