Bangalore, Nov 11: Want to make it big in cricket? Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has a tip -- follow 'The Wall' Rahul Dravid. "He (Dravid) is a perfect role model for youngsters. He has set a great example for all of us to follow. We are all trying to follow that path," Tendulkar told cricket fans after releasing a biography on Rahul Dravid, authored by sports writer Vedam Jaishankar, at a function here today. "He is a solid batsman and one of the top players of the world who I really admire," Tendulkar said, adding that the first time he saw Dravid was in 1994-95 at Rajkot when a common friend Amol Mazumdar, pointing to the Karnataka lad, said "he is the one to watch out for... He is going to get runs and is going to make it big". "Then I had said, he is good. We have to see him. Now the whole world has seen him," said Tendulkar to applause from the audience, including Sadanand Vishwanath, Venkatesh Prasad and Dodda Ganesh. All praise for Dravid's dedication and sacrifice for the game, Tendulkar said the vice-captain was "very sincere and very honest".

Dravid, who recalled Tendulkar's game in an under-15 tournament at Cuttack in 1986 where he scored a good knock for west zone against south zone, said Tendulkar's standards were what he had set for to be a good cricketer.

Bureau Report