Rahul Dravid Test Match: Top 5 test innings that inspired generations

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid, commonly known as ‘The Wall’, was known for weathering the storm and making a difference, especially in the longest format of the game. However, the former India skipper single-handedly helped India win the game in Test cricket on a plethora of occasions.

Meanwhile, as the legendary cricketer celebrates his 51st birthday on Thursday, let’s have a look at a few of his finest knocks in Test cricket:

270 runs vs Pakistan, 2004

Rahul Dravid (Source – Twitter)

India’s great cricketer Rahul Dravid made his 270-run innings against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in 2004. Notably, the three-match series was levelled at 1-1, and there was pressure on the Indian side to register their first win in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the legendary cricketer, who was the stand-in captain for the first two Tests, was relieved of the captaincy as normal captain Sourav Ganguly returned to the field in the final game. However, Dravid’s gritty knock of 270 runs in the first inning, featuring 34 fours and one six, helped India win the final Test game by an innings and 131 runs against arch-rivals Pakistan.

230 runs vs Australia, 2003

Rahul Dravid (Source – Twitter)

The legendary cricketer’s best knock came during the second Test game against Australia in Adelaide, where Rahul Dravid made 233 runs from 446 balls, featuring 23 boundaries and one six. Speaking about the game here, Australia posted 556 runs and 196 runs in the first and second innings, respectively.

However, Team India made 523 and 233 to win the game by 4 wickets against tough home sides.

180 runs vs Australia, 2001

Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman (Source – Twitter)

When one considers Rahul Dravid’s most prominent knock, it is difficult to go past his 180-run innings against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001.

Speaking about the game here, India were bundled out for 171 in reply to Australia’s 445 in the first inning. However, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman batted brilliantly in the second inning to post 657 runs in the second inning and went on to win the Test game by 171 runs in Kolkata.

148 vs South Africa, 2001

Rahul Dravid (Source – Twitter)

Former India skipper Rahul Dravid’s 148-run knock against South Africa during the third Test game in Johannesburg came on the great side and was remembered most by the fans.

Notably, speaking about the game, the visiting sides posted 410 and 266 runs, respectively, while the Proteas could only pile up 321 and 228 runs, which helped India draw the series.

146* vs England, 2011

Rahul Dravid (Source – Twitter)

One of the foremost underrated knocks of Rahul Dravid has got to be his 146-run against England at the Oval in 2011.

Notably, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but Dravid held the ground and went on to play an unbeaten knock of 146. However, Dravid’s knock came on an awful side as the visiting sides lost the Test game.