Rahul Dravid (The Wall)
Image source - crickethighlights
"Try to take his wicket in the first 15 minutes. If you can't then only try to take other remaining wickets."
- Steve Waugh
One of the greatest batsman of all time. Well, his journey for team India began in the year 1994, where his stats and hard work knocked the doors of the Indian National Team. However, he could not make it into playing Xl so he returned back to the domestic circuit and then in 1996, his stats and hard work not only knocked the door but broke it, as he debuted for team India in ODI against Sri Lanka, in the Singer Cup.
Later he debuted for team India in tests in 1996 Vs England. Though he wasn't able to show the world his class in the former, in the latter he showed them.
(Scored 187 runs in 3 innings at an average of 62.33)
Succeeding the series he continued to climb up the ladders for team India.
148 runs off 362 balls Vs South Africa, 1997. Those cover drives pull shots, straight drives...those cut shots wow! Pure class at its best. First-century for Rahul Dravid in the test. When I recall this innings, this innings not only showed the world his class, talent but also his ability to stay till the end. Whatever the conditions maybe he continues to bat till the end despite wickets falling from the other end.
(360 runs in 7 innings at an average of 72 Vs west indies )
(223 runs in 5 innings at an average of 44.60 Vs Australia) 1997/98
India tour of New Zealand 1998/99, a series to remember for Rahul Dravid. Leading scorer in both (Test and ODI)
321 runs in 4 innings at an average of 107 in test series and 309 runs in 5 innings at an average of 77.25 in ODI series. Pure class presence in New Zealand.
Runs were starting to flow from his bat in ODI's but criticisms were like his strike is low and he is not suitable for ODI cricket as he is a test specialist.
Rahul Dravid kept his mind cool and he started sweating out more in nets. As he knew if he starts performing all criticisms will disappear in the air.
461 runs in 8 matches at an average of 65.85, ICC World Cup,1999
153 runs off 153 balls with a brilliant 331 partnership with Sachin Tendulkar Vs New Zealand, 1999
…..many more
2nd test, India Vs Australia, 2001
A test almost remembered by every Indian. A strong comeback by team India, A partnership to remember between Dravid and Laxman, Harbhajan's hat trick…
Venue Eden garden, Kolkata.
Australia gave follow on to India, lost few wickets early then a partnership (which is memorized till date) of 376 runs between Dravid and Laxman created fear in Australia cricket, as after that match Australia were not seen giving follow on to any other teams.
I have watched that match multiple times and every time I had a goosebumps movement.
“If there was one Indian player who could get a direct entry into the famous Australian team of the late 90s, it would be Rahul Dravid.”
– Glenn McGrath
200* off 350 balls Vs Zimbabwe, 2000
217 off 468 balls Vs England, 2002
222 off 387 balls Vs New Zealand, 2003
234 off 446 balls Vs Australia, 2003
270 off 495 balls Vs Pakistan, 2004
Every 200 posted by Rahul Dravid on the scoreboard has its own defining moment.
217 runs Vs England, 2002, India tour of England, 4th test.
England posted 515 runs on the scoreboard in 1st innings, following the innings India lost the wickets of Sehwag at the score of 18 then came Rahul Dravid at one down and played a significant inning which helped team India to draw up the match.
A wall-like innings standing against all the odds (moving pitch, match in England, wickets falling from other ends). Not only that inning but the whole series worth remembering for Rahul Dravid (leading run-scorer for in the series 602 runs in 6 innings at an average of 102.33)
234 runs Vs Australia, 2003, India tour of Australia, 2nd test.
This is another India Vs Australia match that is locked up in the mind of the cricket fans. A test match game at its best.
556 runs for Australia in 1st innings, Ricky Ponting 242 runs, India scoring 523 runs in 1st innings, Rahul Dravid 234 runs, a match-winning partnership between Laxman and Dravid of 303 runs, career's best spell from Agarkar 6/41, and India winning up the match by 4 wickets.
One of the safest fielder of the Indian cricket team.
(Drop catch by Rahul Dravid)
Rarely will you see the above words under his name, such fast reflexes he has. As a fielder, he holds the record of most catches (210) in Test matches. His fielding at the slip corner is so effortless, he made tough catches look so easier. One of my favorite player.
Records
4 consecutive Test hundreds
10,000 or more runs in both ODI and Test
Most delivery faced by a batsman in Test (31,258)
Involved in most hundred runs partnerships.
Scored 7,690 runs at an average of 53.03 away from home.
….many more
One of the most underrated captain of team India. Under his captaincy, team India achieved new stars and were at their top of the game.
Test series win in England(1-0), 2007
Test match win in South Africa, 2006
#record of 17 successful ODI run-chases
42 ODI wins from 79 matches
"Rahul Dravid being known as 'The Wall' is pretty much spot on. 'The fortress' could also describe Rahul. Because once, Dravid was set, you needed the bowling equivalent of a dozen cannon firing all at once to blast him down."
- Shane Warne
Normally the audience gets up and claps for a player when they make a century but Rahul Dravid got a standing ovation for scoring a single run after some 40 balls. Yaa you read it right, it was during the India Vs Australia match in Sydney, 2008 where he blocked 40 balls continuously and proved why he is known as 'The Wall'.
It was an amazing movement with a little bit of laughter.
75* runs off 36 balls, 2008 (RCB Vs RR)
66 runs off 51 balls, 2011 (RR Vs CSK)
52 runs off 35 balls, 2010 (RCB Vs KKR)
31 runs off 21 balls, 2012 (India Vs Eng) (only t20)
Those three back to back sixes were such a delight to watch.
This innings and all other innings proved critics wrong, as according to critics Rahul Dravid technique is not suitable for t20. He proved them wrong by his game.
After his retirement (2012) he continued to contribute for the team as a coach for India u-19 and for India A. He was given an option to be the coach of an ipl team or coach of india u-19 team. He opted for u-19 (for him Nation first). Many youngsters under his guidance have shined up at the higher level.
“I think the boys were extremely fortunate to have Rahul Dravid as coach by their side. One gets to learn a lot, and more importantly become better players in future.”
- Venkatesh Prasad
One of the brilliant, solid, and underrated Batsman of team India.
Well I end this up with a quote by Rahul Dravid
"My approach to cricket has been reasonably simple: it was about giving everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity, and it was about upholding the spirit of the game. I hope I have done some of that. I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying."
- Rahul Dravid
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Written by - Ankit Thakkar
Thank you for writing about him 🙏
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