Picture Credit: BCCI
Indian Head Coach and former cricketing legend Rahul Dravid has turned 49 today. Dravid, who has been often referred to as Wall of Indian Cricket, has been a silent performer and his immense contribution is invaluable for the side. Dravid throughout his career has been a team man and has donned various roles for India. In this article, we will have a look at some of the interesting stats of Rahul Dravid's international career.
- Rahul Dravid holds the record for facing most balls (31258) and also for playing most minutes (44152) in Test cricket.
- In 1999, Rahul Dravid-Sourav Ganguly became the first pair to record 300+ run partnership in World Cup history. Interestingly, both Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly made their Test debut together in 1996 against England at Lord's.
- Although Rahul Dravid became full-time captain of India in 2005, He first got an opportunity to lead India in the year 2000 in an ODI match against Zimbabwe.
- Rahul Dravid-VVS Laxman's 376 run partnership against Australia in 2001 Test at Kolkata went in the history books as India won the match despite getting a follow-on. Dravid-Sehwag's 410 run partnership in 2006 was the 2nd highest opening partnership in Test Cricket overall at that time.
- Rahul Dravid was the highest run-scorer for India in the 2002 Test tour of England and the 2003 Test tour of Australia. His knock of 270 in Rawalpindi (decider game) helped India to clinch the Test Series on Pakistan Soil during 2004.
- Though Rahul Dravid was known for a defensive play, he recorded one of the fastest fifty for India in ODIs off just 22 balls against New Zealand in TVS Cup 2003.
- Though India had a disastrous campaign in WC 2007, From Oct 2005 to Sep 2007 under Rahul Dravid's captaincy, India won most ODIs while batting 2nd.
Most ODI matches won by teams while batting 2nd
India - 24
South Africa - 20
Australia - 19
Most ODI matches won during the period from Oct 2005 to Sep 2007:
Australia - 40
India - 36
South Africa / Sri Lanka - 34
- Dravid was notably the first Indian captain to win a Test match on Pakistan Soil in 2004 and the first Indian captain to win a Test match on South African soil in 2006. Under Dravid's Captaincy India won a Test series on West Indies Soil after 35 years and won a Test Series on England Soil after 21 years.
- On 29th March 2008, Rahul Dravid became the 3rd player after Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara to smash 10,000 runs in both Test Cricket and ODIs.
- Though India faced a humiliating 0-4 loss in the 2011 Test tour of England, Rahul Dravid impressed everyone with his batting ability as he smashed 461 runs from 8 innings at an average of 76.83.
Highest batting average in Test by a visiting batsman on England soil (Minimum 10 innings played):
Don Bradman - 102.84
Steve Waugh - 74.22
Rahul Dravid - 68.80
Most runs by an Indian batsman in Test on England soil:
Sachin Tendulkar - 1575
Rahul Dravid - 1376
Sunil Gavaskar - 1152