Rahul Dravid is hoping to mark his 344th and final one-day international appearance with a long overdue first victory over England this summer for India.
"I would like to sign off with a win. It would be lovely for India,” he said.” We have had a tough tour, and it would be lovely to finish with a win - irrespective of what I get."
Yes, this has been the attitude of the ace cricketer Rahul Dravid who has been providing much needed support to the team leading to victory. It has been almost Eleven years since“ The Great Wall of Indian Cricket" Rahul Dravid played for Kent in the English county but Kent has never forgotten the legendary batsman and still considers Dravid as Kent's very own!.
Dravid's score with kent has been quite good with 55.50 average and 2 centuries in 16 matches but feels not so glorious considering his legacy.
Dravid's score with kent has been quite good with 55.50 average and 2 centuries in 16 matches but feels not so glorious considering his legacy.
Rahul Dravid's career did not commence opportunely. Making his debut in the Singer cup against Sri Lanka in 1996, Dravid came in as a replacement for Vinod Kambli.
Being dropped from the Indian side soon after, Dravid made his actual 'debut' in the second Test against England, where he scored 95 runs.
Nicknamed 'The Wall,' Dravid has been known for his impregnable defence and reliability. One of the highlights of Dravid's early career was his performance in the 1999 World Cup in England. He was the top run-scorer with 461 runs and he also became the only Indian player to score back-to-back centuries in a World Cup.
One of the highlights of Dravid's careers came in the second Test against Australia at Kolkata in 2001; Dravid partnered VVS Laxman to produce one of the greatest comeback victories in the history of the game. Dravid played a remarkable innings of 180 runs and helped India emerge victorious against Australia.
Despite having greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly by his side, Dravid managed to carve a niche for himself. He made tons of runs year after year with great consistency. In the year 2002 Dravid scored 1226 at 64.52, with five centuries in 14 test matches. Dravid soon took up wicket keeping in ODI's in a desperate bid to lend some additional depth to team.
In the series against New Zealand, Australia and Pakistan in 2003-04, Dravid scored three double centuries - one against each side. Under Ganguly's captaincy Dravid considerably grew as a player and emerged as the backbone of Team India. In 2006 Dravid was appointed the captain of Indian team. Even though Dravid was fairly successful as a captain winning away series in Pakistan and West Indies his captaincy stint was marred by the team's disappointing performance in the 2007 World Cup in West-Indies. Soon after this debacle, Dravid led India to its first series win in England since 1986. But soon after Dravid decided to resign from captaincy and focus on his batting. However, this was followed by a lean patch where runs dried up for Dravid. Even during these difficult periods Dravid managed to fight hard and make some vital contributions for the team.
Dravid found his best form again in 2011, scoring a brilliant hundred against West Indies at Kensington Oval under difficult batting conditions. With his eye on the ball like a hawk, Dravid put up one of his best fights to score runs. After batting for more than six and a half hours, 'The Wall' helped India set up a match-winning target against West Indies. Dravid later said that it was because of moments like those he chose to play the game.
Dravid conquered the cricketing world and ruled it for almost a decade. Already a living legend, Dravid is the second highest run scorer in Test cricket after Sachin Tendulkar. Though he is now 38, the passion for the game is young and the proof of this is the phenomenal century he scored against England.
As he moves to Cardiff today where he is to play his last one-day India continues to love its very own Rahul Dravid a saviour.
"I wouldn't dread quitting. I don't think after such a long period of time you don't dread the day. You recognise time would come when you would have to move on. Retiring wouldn't make much change in my life,” he told a press conference on the eve of the fifth and final OD
