Rahul Dravid, the former India skipper and currently the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, has been famous for his calmness and composure on as well as off the field. Dravid has always chosen to stay away from sledgings and all.
Even now, he tends to stay away from the limelight and social media. If you look down memory lane, there are barely a few pictures of the expressive version of Dravid. Let’s have a look at three of them.
1. 233 vs Australia
Dravid was playing the iconic second Test match of the India tour of Australia back in 2003, at Adelaide. Australia skipper Steve Waugh won the toss and chose to bat. Aided by Ricky Ponting’s double hundred, Aussies put on a massive total of 556.
Later, in reply, wickets were falling constantly for India, with Dravid going on at the other end. It was VVS Laxman who contributed some stability and both Dravid and Laxman built the historic partnership and avoided follow-on.
Dravid, particularly, scored an incredible knock of 233 runs in 446 deliveries, with 23 fours and a six. India finished their innings at a score of 523 and bowled Australia out for 196 in their second innings.
Dravid expressively celebrated his achievement, with the bat and his India cap held high.Ā Furthermore, given the target of 230 runs, Dravid again troubled the hosts and scored an unbeaten knock of 72 runs off 170 deliveries, with seven boundaries. India won the game by 4 wickets.
2. 103* vs England
It was the first Test of the India tour of England back in 2011 at the Lord’s, where MS Dhoni, the Indian skipper then, won the toss and elected to field first. England, in their first innings, declared at a massive total of 474/8, thanks to Kevin Pietersen’s unbeaten double hundred.
In reply, Dravid came in to bat at number three after a 63-run stand between the openers was broken. Dravid went on to play cautiously as wickets were falling after every interval. He built a partnership of 81 runs with Sachin Tendulkar and then another 50-run stand with MS Dhoni.
Rahul Dravid got off the mark and smashed the unbeaten knock of 103 runs in 220 deliveries, with 15 boundaries in his account. His efforts aided India to avoid the follow-on and the name ‘Rahul Dravid’ got on the Lord’s Honours Board.
After scoring the century, Dravid went on to celebrate it in a very unlike-Dravid way. He held the bat high and roared some cheerful words. Despite Dravid’s ton, India couldn’t continue the momentum and lost the game by 196 runs.
3. Rishabh Pant’s 146 vs England, July 1
This time it was not Dravid – the player, it was Dravid – the coach. The ongoing India tour of England is Dravid’s first major series as a coach. The one-off Test which is underway at the Edgbaston, in Birmingham, will decide the winner of the 2021-22 series.
Ben Stokes, the English skipper won the toss and elected to bowl first. Indian batters then, could not sustain for long except Rishabh Pant who quick-fired from the beginning of his innings. His crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja was the biggest positive for India.
Pant scored the ton in merely 89 deliveries and as soon as he dived for the final run Rahul Dravid – the coach, stood up and applauded the Indian wicketkeeper-batter with his hands held high and rumbled some energetic phrases for his extraordinary achievement.
The 24-year-old turned out to be the savior for his side, as his coach had been on several occasions. Pant overall scored 146 runs in 111 deliveries, with 19 fours and 4 sixes.
The moment where it all came together for #RP17 š
P.S š You're a special guy if you can get Rahul Dravid to react that way š#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/OBiUVllVYN
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) July 1, 2022
Written By Prachi Pisal
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