Mumbai: If Sunil Gavaskar had inspired Sachin Tendulkar to the sport, Rahul Dravid thinks the latter had been an inspiration to a whole new generation of Indians. Dravid also recalled how he was fascinated by seeing a 13-year-old Sachin bat during an Under-15 match in Cuttack.
"Yesterday, at the BCCI's annual awards function, Sachin spoke warmly about Sunil Gavaskar inspiring him to take up the game. What Sachin has done is inspire a new generation of players in smaller towns and villages across the country. He has inspired them to believe in themselves and live their dreams in a positive manner," said Dravid, at the release a book titled Sachin Born To Bat by Khalid A-H Ansari, on Thursday.
Dravid said it had been a pleasure to play alongside Sachin and share the dressing room with him.
"We might have scored some 6,900-odd runs together. People may not remember me, but will certainly remember Sachin. It was a privilege to bat alongside him and build those partnerships," Dravid said.
![[SPECIAL] Is history repeating itself?](http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/_vgS2FUlJJROo605k6smlw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzYzO2NyPTE7Y3c9MzYzO2R4PTY0MjtkeT00O2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTMxMDtxPTg1O3c9MzEw/http://l.yimg.com/os/153/2013/06/19/85872659-jpg_060933.jpg)
![[RUN MACHINES] Mahela passes Dravid on way to 11,000th run](http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/d5AN_bdEFKTzlQgrOySmjQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzI5O2NyPTE7Y3c9MzI5O2R4PTMxNDtkeT01NDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD0zMTA7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_uk/News/PAImage.com/16833324.jpg)
