Rahul Dravid Birthday: Five Greatest Knocks By Jammy

January 11, 2023 marks the 50th birthday of India’s head coach and one of the greatest batters that the game has seen – Rahul Dravid. The right-hander played 164 Tests and 344 ODIs in a legendary career that spanned more than a decade and a half. Dravid is the fourth highest run scorer in Tests, and amassed 13288 runs, while he scored over 10000 runs (10889) in ODI cricket.

He started his career with a magnificent 95 on Test debut at Lords and went on to become one of the mainstays of the Indian batting line up. In this article, let us take a look at some of his best knocks for India in no particular order.

217 vs England, Kennington Oval (Tests)

Dravid played this classic against England at the Kennington Oval in 2002. In this match, England posted a total of 515, and Dravid walked out to bat when the scorecard read at 18/1. The right-hander scored 217 off 468 deliveries, striking 28 fours in his knock. Dravid put on a partnership of 105 runs with Sourav Ganguly (51) for the fourth wicket and another 113-run stand with VVS Laxman (40) for the fifth wicket.

His superb double century helped India post a total of 508 on the board. However, the match ended in a draw.

153 vs New Zealand, Hyderabad (ODIs)

We will travel to November 1999 to relive this knock from Dravid. The right-hand batter scored a run-a-ball 153 against New Zealand and put on a mammoth 331-run partnership for the second wicket with Sachin Tendulkar, who also scored a century (186*). This is the highest-ever partnership for India in ODI cricket.

Dravid’s ton helped India to a total of 376/2. In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for just 202.

145 vs Sri Lanka, Taunton (ODIs)

Rahul Dravid played a sensational knock against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup. He walked in to bat in the first over of the innings after India lost Sadagoppan Ramesh for five. The right-hander smashed a 129-ball 145 including 17 fours and a six. He forged a partnership of 318 runs for the second wicket with Sourav Ganguly, who struck his career-best 183.

The duo helped India pile up a total of 373/6. Robin Singh took a five-wicket haul, as India won the match by 157 runs.

270 vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi (Tests)

Dravid registered his highest score in Test cricket against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in April 2004. Pakistan posted 224 on the board in the first innings. Dravid walked out after India lost Virender Sehwag off the first ball of the innings. The right-hander scored a 495-ball 270 and helped India to post a massive total of 600.

Dravid struck 34 fours and a six in his marathon knock. Pakistan were bowled out for 245 in their second innings, as India won the match by an innings and 131 runs.

233 vs Australia, Adelaide (Tests)

This will rank as one of the greatest knocks played by an Indian batter overseas. Batting first, Australia were bowled out for 556, with Ricky Ponting scoring 242. In reply, India were in trouble at 85/4, and that was when Dravid joined VVS Laxman. Little did people know that they would witness one of the greatest partnerships in Indian cricket history.

The right-hander forged a stand of 303 runs for the fifth wicket with VVS Laxman (148). Dravid scored a double century (233 off 446), striking 23 fours and a six. India were bowled out for 523. Ajit Agarkar’s six-wicket haul helped India bowl Australia out for 196 in the second innings. India chased down the target of 230 with four wickets in hand with Dravid scoring an unbeaten 72.