Rahul Dravid Biography
It’s hard to plot Rahul Dravid on the graph of cricketing greats. There has rarely been a historic Indian win without a vital contribution from ‘The Wall’, yet, playing in the Tendulkar era, his achievements have been eclipsed by the blinding presence of the great ‘Little Master’.
One of three prominent Karnataka cricketers to make their mark in the 90s, along with Kumble and Srinath, Dravid seemed like he was born out of a batting text book with a strikingly “copybook” technique. In an age where batsmen were innovating and tweaking the norm as the game evolved, Dravid stuck by the methods that he was blooded with.
His earliest Test impact of note following a 95 on debut was against South Africa in 1997, when he backed his maiden century (148) with a half-century to lead India to a rare away draw. A series of impressive knocks helped cement the foundation of ‘The Wall’. A lack of flamboyance was his lone limitation during his formative years. Whilst effective in Tests, it often frustrated fans in limited overs. A metamorphosis took place during the 1999 World Cup, beyond which Dravid’s batting became a marvellous sight to behold in all forms of the game. By 2002, he successfully shed his defensive style and no longer seemed shadowed by the famed Tendulkar-Ganguly opening duo. Since then, the Number 3 batsman carved his own niche as India’s batting anchor. A decade and a half later, he became the only Indian batsman barring Tendulkar never to have been dropped from the Test side since his debut.
Following the match-fixing controversy, he was appointed deputy to captain Ganguly and the added responsibility egged Dravid to greater consistency. He notably played a vital supporting role to VVS Laxman in India’s historic defeat of an all-conquering Australia in 2001. By 2004, he had scored centuries against every Test-playing nation. Captaincy duty soon arrived but the spotlight repulsed him. It also affected his ODI form and after a poor 2007 World Cup he relinquished the armband to focus on his batting and was consequently dropped from ODIs and left out in the cold for 2 years. Still, his position in the classic format remained untouched, unquestioned. Few could match his Test achievements, which remained consistent as ever, vindicating him even when people around were losing faith. He carried his huge experience in the IPL, where he represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore as captain in the first edition, before being bought by the Rajasthan Royals in 2011.
Fast Facts
Rahul Dravid became the first batsman to score a century in every Test playing nation.
His record of 93 consecutive Tests for India is the fifth highest overall and the second highest for an Indian behind Sunil Gavaskar.
Dravid has featured in 100-run partnerships over 80 times with 18 different teammates, a record highest.
With 461 runs, he finished as the top-scorer in the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
Dravid became the first Indian to score back-to-back centuries in a World Cup.
He also became the sixth batsman and the third Indian to cross the 10,000 – run mark in ODIs.
Dravid is also the sixth batsman and the third Indian to score 11, 000 Test runs.
He holds the record of the most number of catches by any Test player.
He was one of the Five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000, along with being the ICC Test Player and Player of the Year in 2004.
It’s hard to plot Rahul Dravid on the graph of cricketing greats. There has rarely been a historic Indian win without a vital contribution from ‘The Wall’, yet, playing in the Tendulkar era, his achievements have been eclipsed by the blinding presence of the great ‘Little Master’.
One of three prominent Karnataka cricketers to make their mark in the 90s, along with Kumble and Srinath, Dravid seemed like he was born out of a batting text book with a strikingly “copybook” technique. In an age where batsmen were innovating and tweaking the norm as the game evolved, Dravid stuck by the methods that he was blooded with.
His earliest Test impact of note following a 95 on debut was against South Africa in 1997, when he backed his maiden century (148) with a half-century to lead India to a rare away draw. A series of impressive knocks helped cement the foundation of ‘The Wall’. A lack of flamboyance was his lone limitation during his formative years. Whilst effective in Tests, it often frustrated fans in limited overs. A metamorphosis took place during the 1999 World Cup, beyond which Dravid’s batting became a marvellous sight to behold in all forms of the game. By 2002, he successfully shed his defensive style and no longer seemed shadowed by the famed Tendulkar-Ganguly opening duo. Since then, the Number 3 batsman carved his own niche as India’s batting anchor. A decade and a half later, he became the only Indian batsman barring Tendulkar never to have been dropped from the Test side since his debut.
Following the match-fixing controversy, he was appointed deputy to captain Ganguly and the added responsibility egged Dravid to greater consistency. He notably played a vital supporting role to VVS Laxman in India’s historic defeat of an all-conquering Australia in 2001. By 2004, he had scored centuries against every Test-playing nation. Captaincy duty soon arrived but the spotlight repulsed him. It also affected his ODI form and after a poor 2007 World Cup he relinquished the armband to focus on his batting and was consequently dropped from ODIs and left out in the cold for 2 years. Still, his position in the classic format remained untouched, unquestioned. Few could match his Test achievements, which remained consistent as ever, vindicating him even when people around were losing faith. He carried his huge experience in the IPL, where he represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore as captain in the first edition, before being bought by the Rajasthan Royals in 2011.
Fast Facts
Rahul Dravid became the first batsman to score a century in every Test playing nation.
His record of 93 consecutive Tests for India is the fifth highest overall and the second highest for an Indian behind Sunil Gavaskar.
Dravid has featured in 100-run partnerships over 80 times with 18 different teammates, a record highest.
With 461 runs, he finished as the top-scorer in the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
Dravid became the first Indian to score back-to-back centuries in a World Cup.
He also became the sixth batsman and the third Indian to cross the 10,000 – run mark in ODIs.
Dravid is also the sixth batsman and the third Indian to score 11, 000 Test runs.
He holds the record of the most number of catches by any Test player.
He was one of the Five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000, along with being the ICC Test Player and Player of the Year in 2004.
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid 75 (36)
Rahul Dravid 54 vs SA at Hove WC 1999
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