Watch: Hemang Badani reveals the secret behind Rahul Dravid's mindset to bat for long hours

Legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid turned 50 years old on 11^th January 2023. As the entire cricketing fraternity wished the ‘Wall of Indian Cricket’, former Indian batter Hemang Badani revealed an unheard story of the current India head coach. Badani revealed Dravid’s heroics in the Chennai league, where the batter would go and just bat for hours.

"He lived in Bangalore and this cricket was happening in Chennai. And he used to come over to Chennai to play in the Chennai league, which is one of the most prolific leagues in India. He would come in and churn 100s after 100s. Every game. And I was somebody who was skilled but I would loft the ball and everything. Go out there and get out. Lofting and getting out long off and stuff," Badani said in a video shared by the Hyderabad franchise in Indian T20 League.

Badani further revealed how Dravid would continue to bat in the same fashion even after getting a century.

“Rahul would only keep the ball on the floor. At one point I said, Rahul you have got one 100, you got two, you got four, you've got 5. What the hell is happening Rahul? Aren't you bored? Don't you like to try something else here?," Badani narrated the incident of a funny conversation with Dravid.

Revealing Dravid's answer to the question, Badani said that the iconic batter would come out to play with a clear mindset, which is to bat for 5 hours, as he had travelled for 6-6.5 hours.

A 🤏 story overheard in our dressing room that will make you 🧡 birthday boy #RahulDravid a bit more! 🎂#OrangeArmy pic.twitter.com/5IBM8BIPeo

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 11, 2023

I am going to bat 5 hours to get a hundred: Rahul Dravid

"He said Hemang, it's quite simple for me. I take a night train. In those days there were no aircrafts and they were very expensive. I take the night train. I travel for 6-6.5 hours. I am not gonna travel that much and go back 6.5 hours to bat for 3 hours. I am going to bat 5 hours to get a hundred. And it's as simple as that for me. If I am travelling so much and playing the game, I better make sure that I am in there for 5 hours," Badani further revealed.

"He said one more thing, which was that in the nets, you bat for 20-odd minutes. What do you do after that as a batter? I'll bat another minute, I'll bat for another 5 balls. You got another 10 balls. Coach, can I bat for another 5 balls, mate can you bowl another 10 balls to me. In a match situation, there is the system set up for you to bowl balls at you. Why would you not play? How do you even think of such things? He said if I get 100, I’m batting 150 balls or 170 balls. Why should I not play. Otherwise, I am begging to bowlers in the nets. And I've got a session here where I can bat this long. Bowlers bowling at me for this long. This is the best place to be! He would never get out," he concluded.