Rahul Dravid

Rahul DravidTemplate:Efn (born 11 January 1973) is an Indian former cricket player, ex-captain and ex-head coach of the Indian national cricket team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Known for his outstanding batting technique,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Dravid scored 24,177 runs in international cricket and is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He is colloquially known as Mr. Dependable and often referred to as The Wall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He won the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy as a member of the Indian team and guided the Indian team to victory in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup as the head coach.

Prior to his appointment to the senior men's national team, Dravid was the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), and the head coach of the India Under-19 and India A teams. Under his tutelage, the Under-19 team finished as runners-up at the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup and won the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Under his coaching, Indian cricket team finished as runners-up at the 2023 Cricket World Cup and 2023 ICC World Test Championship final and were semifinalist at the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Dravid was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2000 and received the Player of the Year and the Test Player of the Year awards at the inaugural ICC awards ceremony in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In December 2011, he was the first non-Australian cricketer to deliver the Bradman Oration in Canberra.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of January 2022, he is the fourth-highest run scorer in Test cricket,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was the first player to score a century in all ten Test-playing countries (now 12).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He holds the records for the most balls faced in Test cricket and the longest time spent batting in Tests.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

David retired from One Day International and Twenty20 International cricket in August 2011, and from Test and first-class cricket the following year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2018, he became the fifth Indian cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.<ref name="ESPNcricinfo">Template:Cite news</ref>

Early life and education

Dravid was born to a Marathi-speaking Brahmin family<ref name="Meet Rahul Sharad Dravid">Template:Cite news</ref> in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His family later moved to Bangalore, Karnataka, where he was raised.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His mother tongue is Marathi.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid's father, Sharad Dravid, worked for a company that produces jams and preserves, giving rise to the later nickname Jammy. His mother, Pushpa, was a professor of architecture at the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering in Bangalore.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid has a younger brother named Vijay.<ref name="dravidthewall1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Rahul Dravid attended St. Joseph's Boys High School and earned a degree in commerce from St Joseph's College of Commerce.<ref name="dravidthewall1"/> He was selected to India's national cricket team while working towards an MBA at the St Joseph's College of Business Administration.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He is fluent in Marathi, Kannada, English and Hindi.<ref name="Meet Rahul Sharad Dravid"/>

Formative years and domestic career

Dravid started playing cricket at the age of 12 and represented Karnataka at the under-15, the under-17, and the under-19 levels.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Former cricketer Keki Tarapore first noticed Dravid's talent while coaching at a summer camp in the Chinnaswamy Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid scored a century for his school team.Template:Citation needed He also played as wicket-keeper.<ref name="dravidthewall1"/>

Dravid made his Ranji Trophy debut in February 1991, while still attending college.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Playing alongside future India teammates Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath against Maharashtra in Pune, he scored 82 runs in the match, which ended in a draw.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He followed it up with a century against Bengal and three successive centuries after.<ref name="Ranji">Template:Cite news</ref> Dravid's first full season took place in 1991–92, when he scored two centuries and finished up with 380 runs at an average of 63.30,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> resulting in his selection to the South Zone cricket team in the Duleep Trophy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid caught the national team selectors' attention with his positive performances for India A in the home series against England A in 1994–95.<ref name="Ranji"/>

International career

Debut

Dravid received his first call to the Indian national cricket team in October 1994 for the last two matches of the Wills World Series. However, he could not break into the playing eleven and had to return to the domestic circuit.<ref name="Taking Guard">Template:Cite book</ref> Despite a stellar show in domestic cricket, Dravid was not selected for the Indian team for the 1996 World Cup, prompting an Indian daily newspaper to run an article with the headline – "Rahul Dravid gets a raw deal".<ref name="The Dravid ODI journey">Template:Cite web</ref>

He eventually made his international debut on 3 April 1996 in an ODI against Sri Lanka in the Singer Cup held in Singapore immediately after the 1996 World Cup, replacing Vinod Kambli.<ref name="Cricinfo Timeline">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="firstpost">Template:Cite web</ref> He wasn't particularly successful with the bat, scoring only three runs before being dismissed by Muttiah Muralitharan, but took two catches in the match.<ref name=Oracle>Template:Cite web</ref> He followed it up with another failure in the next game, scoring only four runs before being run out against Pakistan.<ref name=Oracle />

In contrast to his ODI debut, his Test debut was rather successful. He was selected for the Indian squad touring England on the backdrop of a consistent performance in domestic cricket for five years.<ref name="Taking Guard" /><ref name="Lords feels like home">Template:Cite web</ref> Fine performances in the tour games including fifties against Gloucestershire and Leicestershire failed to earn him a place in the team for the First Test.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He finally made his Test debut at Lord's on 20 June 1996 against England in the Second Test of the series at the expense of injured senior batsman Sanjay Manjrekar.<ref name="Cricinfo Timeline" /><ref name="Nice guy debut">Template:Cite book</ref> Manjrekar, who was suffering from an ankle injury, was to undergo a fitness test on the morning of the Second Test. Dravid had already been informed that he would play if Manjrekar failed the test. Manjrekar subsequently failed the test. Ten minutes before the toss, Sandeep Patil, the Indian coach, informed Dravid that he was indeed going to make his debut that day. Patil recalled years later:<ref name="Nice guy debut" /> Template:Blockquote Coming in to bat at no. 7, he forged important partnerships, first with another debutant Sourav Ganguly and then with Indian lower order, securing a vital first innings lead for his team.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Golden debuts">Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid scored 95 runs missing out on a debut hundred as he walked off after getting caught behind to a Chris Lewis delivery.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During this match, he also took his first catch in Test cricket to dismiss Nasser Hussain off the bowling of Srinath.<ref name="Dravid's innings-wise fielding analysis">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Debut Test">Template:Cite web</ref> In the next tour game against British Universities, Dravid scored a hundred. He scored another fifty in the first innings of the Third Test.<ref name=Oracle /> Dravid concluded a successful debut series with an average of 62.33 from two Test matches.<ref name="series-wise batting performance">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Quote box Template:Clear

1996–98

Dravid's early years in international cricket mirrored his international debut. He had contrasting fortunes in the long and the shorter format of the game. While he was successful in Test cricket, he struggled with ODIs.<ref name="Odi retirement another day in life">Template:Cite web</ref>

After his Test debut in England, Dravid played in the one-off Test against Australia in Delhi – his first Test in India. Batting at no. 6, he scored 40 runs in the first innings. Dravid batted at no. 3 position for the first time in the First Test of the three-match home series against South Africa in Ahmedabad in November 1996.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /> He failed to perform well in the series, scoring only 175 runs at an average of 29.16.<ref name="series-wise batting performance" />

Two weeks later, India toured South Africa for a three–match Test series. Chasing a target of 395 runs in the First Test, the Indian team got bowled out for 66 runs on the Durban pitch that provided excessive bounce and seam movement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid, batting at no. 6, was the only Indian batsman who reached double figures in the innings, scoring 27 not out.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was promoted to the no. 3 slot again in the second innings of the Second Test. He almost won the Third Test for India with his maiden test hundred in the first innings, scoring 148 runs and another 81 runs in the second innings at Wanderers before the thunderstorms, dim light and Cullinan's hundred helped South Africa draw the match.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid's performance in this Test earned him his first Man of the Match award in Test cricket.<ref name="MOTM list">Template:Cite web</ref> He top scored for India in the series with 277 runs at an average of 55.40.<ref name="Most runs: India in South Africa Test series, 1996/97">Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid continued in the same vein in the West Indies, where he once again top scored for India in the five–match Test series, aggregating 360 runs at an average of 72.00, including four fifties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 92 runs scored in the first innings of the fifth match in Georgetown earned him a joint Man of the Match award along with Shivnarine Chanderpaul.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With this series, Dravid concluded the 1996-97 Test season, topping the international runs chart with 852 runs from 12 matches at an average of 50.11, with six fifties and a hundred.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid continued his successful run, scoring seven fifties in the next eight Tests that included fifties in six consecutive innings (three each against Sri Lanka and Australia), becoming only the second Indian to do so after Gundappa Vishwanath.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By the end of 1997-98 Test season, he had scored 15 fifties in 22 Tests including four scores of nineties but just one hundred.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 1998-99 Test season, Dravid scored 752 runs in seven Tests at an average of 62.66, that included four hundreds and one fifty. In the process, he topped the runs chart for India for the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He scored the first of the four hundreds during the Zimbabwe tour.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /> Dravid top scored in both innings against Zimbabwe, scoring 118 and 44 runs respectively; however, India lost the one-off Test.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Zimbabwe tour was followed by a tour to New Zealand. The First Test having been abandoned without a ball being bowled,<ref name="Ind in NZ 1998 results">Template:Cite web</ref> the series started for Dravid with the first duck of his Test career in the first innings of the Second Test and ended with hundreds in both innings of the Third Test in Hamilton. He scored 190 and 103 not out in the first and the second innings respectively, becoming only the third Indian batsman, after Vijay Hazare and Sunil Gavaskar, to score a century in both innings of a Test match.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid topped the runs table for the series with 321 runs at an average of 107.00, although India lost the series 0–1.<ref name="Ind in NZ 1998 results" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Later that month, India played a two Test home series against Pakistan. Dravid didn't contribute much with the bat. India lost the First Test but won the Second Test in Delhi with Kumble's historic 10-wicket haul. Dravid played his part in the 10-wicket haul by taking a catch to dismiss Mushtaq Ahmed, who was Kumble's eighth victim in the innings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The India-Pakistan Test series was followed by the 1998–99 Asian Test Championship. India went on to lose the riot-affected First Test of the championship against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> India went to Sri Lanka to play the Second Test of the championship. Dravid scored his fourth hundred of the season at Colombo in the first innings of the match. He also effected a successful run out of Russel Arnold during Sri Lankan innings fielding at short leg. On the fourth morning, Dravid was injured while fielding at the same position when the ball from Jayawardene's pull shot struck his face through the helmet grill. He didn't come out to bat in the second innings due to the injury.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The match ended in a draw as India failed to qualify for the Finals of the championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In a stark contrast to his Test career, Dravid struggled to make a mark in the ODIs.<ref name="Odi retirement another day in life" /> Between his ODI debut in April 1996 and the end of 1998, Dravid regularly found himself in and out of the ODI team.<ref name="Dravid ruled out of odi poor form">Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid's first success in his ODI career took place in the 1996 'Friendship' Cup against Pakistan in the tough conditions of Toronto.<ref name="unlikely star of odis">Template:Cite web</ref> He emerged as the highest scorer of the series with 220 runs in five matches at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 68.53.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He won his first ODI Man of the Match award for the 46 runs scored in the low scoring third game of the series.<ref name="MOTM list" /> He top scored for India in the Standard Bank International One-Day Series 1996/97 in South Africa with 280 runs from eight games at an average of 35.00 and a strike rate of 60.73,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the highlight being a Man of the Match award-winning performance (84 runs, one catch) in the Final of the series, although his team lost the match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was the second highest run scorer for India in the four-match bilateral ODI series in the West Indies in the 1996–97 season with 121 runs at an average of 40.33 and a strike rate of 57.61.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid scored his first ODI hundred in the 1997 Pepsi Independence Cup against Pakistan in Chennai that came in a losing cause.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid top scored for India in the quadrangular event with 189 runs from three games at an average of 94.50 and a strike rate of 75.60. However, India failed to qualify for the Final of the series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid's achievements in the ODIs were dwarfed by his failures in the shorter format of the game. 14 runs from two games in the 1996 Pepsi Sharjah Cup; 20 runs from two innings in the Singer World Series; 65 runs from four innings in the 1997 'Friendship' Cup; 88 runs from four games in the 1998 Coca-Cola Triangular Series including a 22-ball five runs and a 21-ball one run innings, both against Bangladesh; 32 runs from four games in the 1998 'Friendship' Cup;<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /><ref name="series-wise batting performance" /> a slew of such poor performances often forced him to the sidelines of the India ODI squad.<ref name="Dravid ruled out of odi poor form" /> By the end of 1998, Dravid had scored 1,709 runs in 65 ODIs at an average of only 31.64 with a low strike rate of 63.48.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

By now, Dravid had been branded as a Test specialist. While he continued a successful run in Test cricket, he struggled in the ODIs. He drew criticism for not being able to adjust his style of play to the needs of ODI cricket and his lack of attacking capability. Dravid subsequently increased his range of strokes and adapted his batting style to suit the requirements of ODI cricket. He learned to pace his innings cleverly without going for the slogs.<ref name="The Dravid ODI journey" /><ref name="Odi retirement another day in life" /><ref name="unlikely star of odis" />

Dravid's ODI success began during the 1998-99 New Zealand tour.<ref name="The Dravid ODI journey" /> He scored a run-a-ball hundred in the first match of the bilateral ODI series that earned him his third Man of the Match award in ODIs.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /><ref name="MOTM list" /> His team lost the match.<ref name="Oracle" /> However, his effort of 51 runs from 71 balls in the Fourth ODI resulted in India's victory and earned him his second Man of the Match award of the series.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /><ref name="MOTM list" /> He became the top scorer of the series with 309 runs from five games at an average of 77.25 and a strike rate of 84.65.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid scored a hundred against Sri Lanka in the 1998/99 Pepsi Cup at Nagpur, scoring 116 of 118 deliveries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the next match against Pakistan, he bowled four overs and took the wicket of Saeed Anwar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was his first wicket in international cricket.<ref name="Oracle" />

Dravid scored two fifties in the 1998–99 Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah, one each against England and Pakistan.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /> Standing-in as the substitute wicket-keeper in the third match of the series for Nayan Mongia, who was injured during keeping, Dravid effected two dismissals. He first stumped Graeme Hick off Sunil Joshi's bowling, who became Dravid's first victim as a wicket-keeper, and then caught Neil Fairbrother off Ajay Jadeja's bowling.<ref name="Dravid's innings-wise fielding analysis" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He top scored for India in the tournament,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> though his last innings of the series was a golden duck against Pakistan in the Final.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" />

World Cup debut

Dravid hit consecutive fifties in England against Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire in the warm-up games.<ref name="Oracle" />

He made his World Cup debut against South Africa at Hove, scoring a half century. He scored only 13 runs in the next game against Zimbabwe.<ref name="Dravid in 1999 WC">Template:Cite web</ref> India lost both the games.<ref name="1999 WC results">Template:Cite web</ref> Having lost the first two games, India needed to win the remaining three games of the first round to have any chance of advancing into the Super Six stage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid set up a partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, during which they scored 237 runs against Kenya at Bristol – a World Cup record – and in the process hit his maiden World Cup hundred, leading India to a 94-run victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> India's designated keeper Nayan Mongia was injured and left the field at the end of the 9th over during Kenyan innings, forcing Dravid to keep the wickets for the rest of the innings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the absence of Mongia, Dravid played his first ODI as a designated keeper against Sri Lanka at Taunton.<ref name="Dravid as keeper match list">Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid once again set up a record breaking partnership of 318 runs, the first ever three hundred run partnership in ODI history, with Sourav Ganguly leading India to a 157-run win.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid scored 145 runs from 129 balls with 17 fours and a six, becoming the second batsman in World Cup history to hit back-to-back hundreds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid scored a fifty in the last group match as India defeated England to advance to the Super Six stage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid scored 2, 61, and 29 in the three Super Six matches against Australia, Pakistan & New Zealand respectively.<ref name="Dravid in 1999 WC" /> India failed to qualify for the semi-finals, having lost to Australia and New Zealand. They achieved a consolation victory against Pakistan in a tense game that took place during the Kargil War in Kashmir.<ref name="1999 WC results" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid emerged as the top scorer of the tournament with 461 runs from 8 games at an average of 65.85 and a strike rate of 85.52.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid's post-World Cup campaign started poorly with only 40 runs scored in 4 games during the Aiwa Cup in August 1999.<ref name="Oracle" /> He soon top-scored for India in two consecutive limited-overs series – the Singapore Challenge, the highlight being a hundred in the Final (despite their loss),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the DMC Cup, the highlight being a match winning effort (77 runs, 4 catches) in the series decider for which he received a man-of-the-match award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid topped the international runs chart for the 1999 cricket season across all formats, scoring 782 runs during 19 matches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By now, Dravid had started to keep wickets on an infrequent basis, with India fielding him as designated wicket-keeper in five out of 10 ODIs played in the three events.<ref name="Dravid as keeper match list" />

Dravid began his post-World Cup Test season with a decent outing against New Zealand in the 3-match home series. His best effort during the series came in the second innings of the First test at Mohali, where he scored 144 runs, helping India salvage a draw after being bowled out for 83 runs in the First innings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was Dravid's sixth test hundred and his first test hundred in India.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /> Dravid was successful in the 3–2 series win against New Zealand during the bilateral ODI series, scoring 240 runs in 5 games at an average of 60 and a strike rate of 83.62, ending as the second highest scorer in the series.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His career best effort in ODIs came in this series in the second game at Hyderabad where he scored run-a-ball 153 runs, which included fifteen fours and two sixes.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /> He set up a 331-run partnership with Tendulkar, highest partnership in ODI cricket history at the time, a record they held for 15 years until it was broken in 2015.<ref name="ODI highest partnerships">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1999, Dravid scored 1,761 runs in 43 ODIs at an average of 46.34 and a strike rate of 75.16, including 6 hundreds and 8 fifties. He also featured in two 300+ run partnerships.<ref name="ODI highest partnerships" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

India toured Australia in December 1999 for a 3-match test series and a triangular ODI tournament. Although Dravid scored a hundred against Tasmania in the practice match, he underperformed with the bat in the Test series as India lost 0–3. He did reasonably well in the 1999–2000 Carlton & United Series, scoring 3 fifties in the triangular event. However, India failed to qualify for the Final of the tournament.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid's poor form in Tests continued as India suffered a 0–2 whitewash against South Africa in a home series.<ref name="Oracle" /> He had moderate success in the bilateral ODI series against South Africa. He contributed to India's 3–2 series win with 208 runs at an average of 41.60, which included 2 fifties and three wickets at an average of 22.66, topping the bowling average chart for the series.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His career best bowling figure of 2/43 from nine overs in the First ODI at Kochi was also the best bowling figure for any bowler in that match.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rise through the ranks

In February 2000, Tendulkar's resignation from captaincy led to the promotion of Ganguly, the then-vice-captain, as the new captain of the Indian team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2000, while Dravid was busy playing county cricket in England, he was appointed as the vice-captain of the Asia cup Indian team.<ref name="Dravid appointed vice captain">Template:Cite news</ref>

India did well in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy. The Indian team, marred by a match fixing controversy, defeated Kenya, Australia, and South Africa in consecutive matches to reach the Finals. India lost to New Zealand in the Finals.<ref name="2000 knock out">Template:Cite book</ref> Dravid scored 157 runs in 4 matches of the tournament, at an average of 52.33, including 2 fifties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also scored 85 runs in a match against Zimbabwe in the 2000–01 Coca-Cola Champions Trophy while opening the innings but was forced to miss the rest of the tournament because of an injury.<ref name="2000 knock out" />

India kick started the new Test season with a 9-wicket win against Bangladesh. Dravid played a brisk knock of 41 runs from 49 balls, including five fours and a six, while chasing a target of 63 runs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The ensuing test series against Zimbabwe was John Wright's first assignment as Indian coach. Dravid, who had recently concluded a county stint with Kent, had interacted with and recognized Wright's potential, who was coaching Kent cricket team at the time and played a key role in recommendation and appointment of Wright as India's first foreign head coach. Dravid scored 200 not out in the first and 70 not out in the second innings of the First Test, guiding India to a 9-wicket victory against Zimbabwe.<ref name="2000 knock out" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He scored 162 in the drawn Second test to end the series with an average of 432.00, the highest batting average by an Indian in a series across all formats (international and non-international).<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid captained the Indian team for the first time in the fifth match of the bilateral ODI series against Zimbabwe in the absence of Ganguly, who was serving suspension.<ref name="2000 knock out" /> With Agarkar's successful performance, Dravid led India to a 39-run victory in his maiden ODI as captain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2004, Dravid was found guilty of ball tampering during an ODI with Zimbabwe. Match referee Clive Lloyd adjudged the application of an energy sweet to the ball as a deliberate offence, although Dravid himself denied this was his intent. Lloyd emphasised that television footage caught Dravid putting a lozenge on the ball during the Zimbabwean innings on Tuesday night at the Gabba. According to the ICC's Code of Conduct, players are not allowed to apply substances to a ball other than sweat and saliva. Dravid was fined half of his match fee.<ref name="SMH">Template:Cite news</ref> Indian coach John Wright defended Dravid, stating that "It was an innocent mistake". Wright argued that Dravid had been trying to apply saliva to the ball when parts of a losenge he had been chewing stuck to the ball; Dravid then tried to wipe it off. ICC regulations prevented Dravid from commenting about the issue, but former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly also stated that Dravid's act was "just an accident".<ref name="ESPNcric">Template:Cite web</ref>

History at Eden

The Australian team toured India, touted as 'Final Frontier' by Steve Waugh for his team that was on a 15-match winning streak, in February 2001.<ref name="Nice guy Aus. 2001 tour">Template:Cite book</ref> Dravid performed poorly in the first innings of the First Test but displayed strong resilience in the second innings. His 196-ball-long resistance finally ended when he got out bowled to Warne for 39 runs. Australians extended their winning streak to 16 Tests as they defeated India by 10 wickets inside three days.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the Second Test at Eden Gardens, the Australians bowled India out for 171 runs in the first innings and enforced a follow-on after securing a lead of 274 runs. In the second innings, Laxman, who had scored a fifty in the first innings, was promoted to the no. 3 position which had been Dravid's usual spot, while Dravid, who had gotten bowled out to Warne for a second time in a row in the first innings for just 25 runs, was relegated to no. 6 position. When Dravid joined Laxman in the middle on the third day of the Test the scoreboard read 232/4, with India still needing 42 runs to avoid an innings defeat.<ref name="Nice guy Aus. 2001 tour" /><ref name="VVS LAxman best">Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid and Laxman played out the remaining time on the third day and the whole of the fourth day denying Australia any breakthrough.<ref name="Nice guy Aus. 2001 tour" /><ref name="laxman dravid inspired">Template:Cite web</ref> Eventually, Laxman got out on the fifth morning, bringing the 376-runs partnership to an end. Ganguly declared the innings at 657/7, setting Australia a target of 384 runs with 75 overs left in the match.<ref name="follow on to win">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> India bowled Australia out for 212 runs in 68.3 overs winning the match by 171 runs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was only the third instance of a team winning a Test after following-on, and India became the second team to do so.<ref name="follow on to win" />

Dravid scored 81 runs in the first innings of the Third Test and took 4 catches in the match as India defeated Australia at Chennai, winning the series 2–1. Dravid scored 80 runs in the first of the 5-match ODI series at his home ground as India won the match by 60 runs. He underperformed in the remaining 4 ODIs as Australia won the series 3–2.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid topped the averages for the 2000-01 Test season with 839 runs in six matches at an average of 104.87.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid had a decent outing in Zimbabwe, scoring 137 runs from 134 balls in the First Tour game and aggregating 138 runs at an average of 69.00 from the drawn Test series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the ensuing triangular ODI series, he aggregated 121 runs from 5 matches at an average of 40.33 and a strike rate of 101.68,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the highlight being an unbeaten 72 off 64 balls, while chasing a target of 235 against Zimbabwe in the 3rd match of the series, leading India to a 4-wicket win with four balls to spare. He was adjudged man of the match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On the next tour to Sri Lanka, India lost the first three matches of the triangular event. In the absence of the suspended Ganguly, Dravid captained the side in the 4th match leading them to their first victory of the series. India won the next two matches to qualify for the Final. Dravid played crucial innings in all three victories. Eventually, India lost the Final to Sri Lanka.<ref name="SL tour 2001 Nice guy">Template:Cite book</ref> He top scored for India in the series with 259 runs from seven matches at an average of 51.80 and a strike rate of 59.81.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reinstated to his usual no. 3 position in the absence of the injured Laxman, Dravid top scored for India in the ensuing 3-Test series as well with 235 runs at an average of 47.00. Dravid scored 75 runs in the fourth innings chase of the Second Test – a crucial contribution to India's first Test win in Sri Lanka since 1993, despite the absence of key players like Tendulkar, Laxman, Srinath and Kumble.<ref name="SL tour 2001 Nice guy" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid had decent success in Standard Bank tri-series on the South Africa tour, scoring 214 runs (including 3 fifties) at an average of 53.50 and a strike rate of 71.81.<ref name="series-wise batting performance" /> He also kept wickets in the final two ODIs of the series, effecting 3 stumpings.<ref name="Dravid as keeper match list" /> The highlight for Dravid in the ensuing Test series came in the second innings of the Second Test. India, having failed to last a hundred overs in any of the previous three innings in the series, needed to bat out four sessions in the Second Test to save the match. They started poorly, losing their first wicket in the first over itself. However, Dravid forged a partnership of 171 runs with Dasgupta that lasted for 83.2 overs, taking India to the brink of safety. Poor weather helped India salvage a draw as only 96.2 overs could be bowled in the innings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid captained the team in the 'unofficial' Third test in the absence of injured Ganguly, which India lost by an innings margin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Nice guy SA 2001 tour">Template:Cite book</ref>

By the end of the South African tour, Dravid had started experiencing problems with his right shoulder. Although he played the ensuing home test series against England, he pulled out of the six-match bilateral ODI series to undergo a shoulder rehabilitation program in South Africa. He returned for Zimbabwe's tour of India but performed below par, scoring a fifty each in the Test series and the bilateral ODI series.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref name="Nice guy SA 2001 tour" />

2002–2006: Peak years

Dravid hit the peak form of his career in 2002.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Between the 2002 and the 2006 season, Dravid was the second-highest scorer overall and top scorer for India across formats, scoring 8,914 runs from 174 matches at an average of 54.02, including 19 hundreds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid had a successful outing in the West Indies in 2002. The highlights for him included hitting a hundred with a swollen jaw helping India avoid the follow-on at Georgetown in the drawn First Test,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> contributing with a fifty and four catches to India's victory in the Second Test at the Port of Spain – India's first Test victory in the West Indies since 1975–76<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> – and another fifty in the drawn Fourth Test with a wicket to boot, that of Ridley Jacobs who was batting on 118.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was Dravid's only wicket in Test cricket.<ref name="Oracle" /> He played as India's designated keeper in the ODI series but didn't contribute much with the bat in the 2–1 series win.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref name="Dravid as keeper match list" />

A quartet of hundreds

India's tour of England in 2002 started with a triangular ODI event involving India, England and Sri Lanka. India emerged as the winner of the series, defeating England in the Final – their first victory after nine consecutive defeats in one-day finals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid played as designated keeper in six out of seven matches, effecting nine dismissals (6 catches, 3 stumpings) – the most by a keeper in the series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also performed well with the bat, aggregating 245 runs at an average of 49.00, including three fifties.<ref name="series-wise batting performance" /> His performance against Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI (64 runs, 1 catch) earned him a man of the match award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

India lost the first of the four match Test series. Having conceded a 260 runs lead in the first innings of the Second Test at Nottingham, the Indian team was in a spot of bother. However, Dravid led the fightback in the second innings with a hundred as the Indian team managed to earn a draw.<ref name="England tour 2002">Template:Cite book</ref>

Ganguly won the toss in the Third Test and decided to bat first on an overcast morning at Headingley, on a pitch known to be traditionally conducive for fast and swing bowling.<ref name="England tour 2002" /> Having lost an early wicket, Dravid weathered the storm in the company of Sanjay Bangar.<ref name="weather the storm">Template:Cite web</ref> They played cautiously, taking body blows on a pitch with uneven bounce. Dravid completed his second hundred of the series in the process.<ref name="England tour 2002" /><ref name="weather the storm" /> The Indian team declared the innings on 628/8 and then bowled England out twice to register their first test victory in England since 1986.<ref name="England tour 2002" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite being outscored by Tendulkar, Dravid was named man of the match for his heroic efforts on the first day in adverse conditions.<ref name="England tour 2002" /><ref name="weather the storm" /> Dravid scored a double hundred in the drawn Fourth Test and earned his second consecutive man of the match award of the series.<ref name="Ind vs Eng 4th test">Template:Cite web</ref> Christopher Martin-Jenkins noted during the Fourth Test:<ref name="England tour 2002" /> Template:Blockquote Dravid aggregated 602 runs in the series from four matches at an average of 100.33, including three hundreds and a fifty, and was adjudged joint man of the series along with Michael Vaughan.<ref name="series-wise batting performance" /><ref name="Ind vs Eng 4th test" />

India jointly shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid contributed to India's successful campaign with 120 runs at an average of 60.00 and five dismissals behind the wicket.<ref name="Oracle" /> Dravid scored a hundred in the First Test of the three match home series against the West Indies, becoming the first Indian batsman to score hundreds in four consecutive Test innings, but had to retire soon after owing to severe cramps.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid performed well in the subsequent bilateral 7-match ODI series aggregating 300 runs at an average of 75.00 and a strike rate of 89.82, including a hundred and two fifties.<ref name="series-wise batting performance" /> He also effected 7 dismissals (6 catches, 1 stumping) in the series.<ref name="series wise fielding">Template:Cite web</ref> India was trailing 1–2 and needed 325 runs to win the Fourth ODI and level the series. Dravid scored a hundred, leading India to a successful chase. He once again scored a crucial fifty in the Sixth ODI as India once again leveled the series after trailing 2–3. India, however, lost the last match to lose the series 3–4.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid top scored for India in the two-match Test series in New Zealand as India slumped to a whitewash.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Ind in NZ 2002 results">Template:Cite web</ref> He played as designated keeper in six of the 7-match bilateral ODI series and effected seven dismissals but fared poorly with the bat as India was handed a 2-5 drubbing by New Zealand.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref name="Ind in NZ 2002 results" />

2003 Cricket World Cup

Dravid arrived in South Africa with the Indian squad to participate in the 2003 Cricket World Cup in the capacity of first-choice keeper-batsman as part of their seven batsmen-four bowlers strategy – an experiment that had brought success to the team during the prior year. The idea was that making Dravid keep wickets allowed India to accommodate an extra specialist batsman. The strategy worked well for India in the World Cup. India recovered from a less than convincing victory against the Netherlands and a loss to Australia in the league stage, winning eight consecutive matches to qualify for the World Cup Finals for the first time since 1983.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> India eventually lost the Final to Australia, finishing as runner-up in the tournament.<ref name="2003 WC results">Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid contributed to India's campaign with 318 runs at an average of 63.60 and 16 dismissals (15 catches, 1 stumping).<ref name="series-wise batting performance" /><ref name="series wise fielding" /> Highlights for Dravid in the tournament included a fifty against England, 44 not out against Pakistan in a successful chase, and an undefeated fifty in another successful chase against New Zealand.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref name="2003 WC results" />

Dravid topped the international runs chart for the 2003-04 cricket season across formats, aggregating 1,993 runs from 31 matches at an average of 64.29, including three double hundreds.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first match involved India and New Zealand, in the first of the two-test home series at Ahmedabad. Dravid scored 222 runs in the first innings and 73 runs in the second innings, receiving a man of the match award for his efforts. Dravid captained the Indian Test Team for the first time in the second game of the series at Mohali in the absence of Ganguly. Both matches ended in draws.<ref name="MOTM list" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Dravid top scored in the series with 313 runs at an average of 78.25.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> India next participated in the TVS cup alongside New Zealand and Australia. India lost to Australia in the Final. Dravid scored two fifties in the series but the highlight was his fifty against New Zealand in the ninth match that came in just 22 balls – the second fastest fifty by an Indian.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

An Eden encore at Adelaide

Template:Quote box After earning a draw in the first of the four-match Test series in Australia, the Indian team found itself reeling at 85/4 in the Second Test at Adelaide, after Australia had piled 556 runs in the first innings when Laxman joined Dravid in the middle.<ref name="Nice guy Australia 2003">Template:Cite book</ref> They batted for 93.5 overs, bringing about their second 300-run partnership, adding 303 runs together before Laxman perished for 148 runs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, Dravid continued to complete his second double hundred of the season.<ref name="Oracle" /> He was the last man out for 233 runs as India conceded a marginal first innings lead of 33 runs to Australia. India bowled Australia out for a score of only 196, with the help of Agarkar's six-wicket haul, and were set a target of 230 runs to win the match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid scored an unbeaten 72 in the chase as India registered their first test victory in Australia since the 1980–81 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was the first time that Australians went behind in a home series since 1994.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid won the man of the match award for his efforts.<ref name="MOTM list" /> He scored two nineties in the next two tests, as Australia leveled the series to 1–1.<ref name="Oracle" /> Dravid top scored for India in the series with 619 runs at an average of 123.80 and was awarded player of the series for his efforts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After Adelaide 2003

Dravid performed moderately well in the ensuing VB series with three fifties in the league stage, all of which came in winning cause. However, India lost the best-of-three finals to Australia 2–0.<ref name="Oracle" />

India visited Pakistan in March 2004 to participate in a bilateral Test series for the first time since the 1989–90 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Prior to the Test series, India played and won the 5-match ODI series 3–2.<ref name="Oracle" /> Dravid top scored for India in the series with 248 runs at an average of 62.00 and a strike rate of 73.59, and effected four dismissals (3 catches, 1 stumping).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="series wise fielding" /> His contributions included 99 runs in the First ODI and a fifty during a successful chase in the Fourth ODI.<ref name="Oracle" />

Dravid captained India in the first two of the ensuing three-match test series in the absence of Ganguly, who was injured, and led India to their first-ever Test victory in Pakistan. In only his second test as the team's captain, Dravid took a controversial decision during the First Test at Multan, declaring Indian innings at the fall of the fifth wicket, with the scoreboard reading 675/5 and Tendulkar unbeaten at 194, just six runs shy of a double hundred. He wanted to bowl a certain number of overs and take a shot at the exhausted Pakistani batsmen, who had been on the field for 150+ overs, in the final hour of the second day's play. While some praised the "team-before-personal-milestones" approach of the Indian captain, others criticized Dravid's timing of declaration as there were no pressing concerns and there was ample time left in the match to try to bowl Pakistan out twice.<ref name="Runs n reins 2004 pak tour">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> While Tendulkar was admittedly disappointed, both he and Dravid and the team's management denied any rumours of a rift between them, and claimed that the matter had been discussed and sorted amicably behind closed doors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> India eventually went on to win the match by an innings margin. Pakistan leveled the series, defeating India in the Second Test. Dravid scored a double hundred in the Third Test at Rawalpindi – his third double hundred of the season. He scored 270 runs – his career best performance – before perishing to a reverse sweep, trying to force the pace.<ref name="Runs n reins 2004 pak tour" /><ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /> India went on to win the match and the series – their first series victory outside India since 1993 and first ever in Pakistan.<ref name="Runs n reins 2004 pak tour" /> Dravid was adjudged man of the match for his effort.<ref name="MOTM list" /> He topped the international averages for 2003-04 Test season with 1,241 runs from nine tests at an average of 95.46.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

India ended as runners-up in the 2004 Asia Cup. Dravid contributed to the campaign with a hundred against the U.A.E., which earned him a man of the match award,<ref name="MOTM list" /> a fifty against Sri Lanka and five dismissals behind the wicket.<ref name="Oracle" /> He did not make any significant contribution with the bat in the ensuing Videocon Cup, but scored a fifty in the 3-match bilateral ODI series in England and top scored for India in the failed campaign at the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid did not perform well in the ensuing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, scoring only one fifty in four matches.<ref name="Oracle" /> He led India in the Third and the Fourth Test of the series in the absence of regular captain Ganguly amid some speculations. While India lost the Third Test and with it the series, he led the team to a consolation win in the Fourth Test with his spirited leadership and some critical decision making including promotion of Laxman up the batting order and bowling Kartik before Kumble.<ref name="In a class of his own">Template:Cite book</ref> He contributed 181 runs including two fifties to India's 1–0 victory in the 2-match home test series against South Africa. He topped the series average charts with an average of 90.5.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sandwiched between the two test series, India played a solitary ODI against Pakistan at home to mark the 75th anniversary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.<ref name="cricinfo batting innings list" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The match turned out to be Dravid's last ODI as a designated wicket keeper.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref name="Dravid as keeper match list" /> In all, Dravid effected 84 dismissals (71 catches, 13 stumpings) in 73 matches as India's designated keeper and 2 dismissals (1 catch, 1 stumping) as substitute keeper, totaling to 86 dismissals behind the wicket in ODIs which is the fourth best among Indian keepers.<ref name="Dravid as keeper match list" /><ref name="Dravid's innings-wise fielding analysis" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid had a good outing on Bangladesh tour, where he scored a hundred in the Test series and two fifties in the ODI series, with India winning both the series.<ref name="Oracle" />

In 2005, Dravid represented Asia XI against the ICC World XI at the World Cricket Tsunami Appeal. He top scored for Asia XI with a fifty but could not take his team to victory against the ICC World XI.<ref name="Oracle" /> Pakistan visited India in March 2005 for bilateral a Test and ODI series. Dravid scored a fifty in the First drawn test. He scored a hundred in each innings of the second test (110 in First innings and 135 in Second innings) at Eden Gardens, becoming only the second Indian to have scored a hundred in each innings of a test on two or more occasions. India won the test and Dravid earned man of the match award for his performance. He didn't fare well in the Third Test as India lost to draw the series 1-1. At the end of the series, Dravid's test average stood at 57.86 which was highest among the contemporary batsmen.<ref name="In a class of his own" /> Dravid topped the runs chart in the 6-match ODI series with 308 runs at an average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 80.00, including a hundred and two fifties. He also captained the team in the final two ODIs in the absence of Ganguly but could not prevent his team from losing the series 2–4 to Pakistan.

Dravid fielding during a Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2008.

Dravid batting against Australia at the MCG

Captaincy

Dravid was appointed as full time captain for ODIs in October 2005 series vs Sri Lanka<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and for tests in November 2005 series vs Sri Lanka.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Under Dravid's captaincy, India won a record 17 successive matches while chasing in ODIs, from September 2005 to May 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In India's tour of West Indies in 2006, Dravid led from the front scoring twin fifties (81 and 68), leading India to a win in the 4th and final test, winning the man of the match award and clinching a historic series win 1-0, their first in the Caribbean in 35 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid was the captain of the Indian team for the 2007 World Cup, during which India exited in the first stage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid received severe criticism for the exit. "The result: a confused team, unclear about what mode to take on the field, haphazard selections, and defensive, unsure play. The confused state of Dravid's state of mind could be seen in his field captaincy. Unsure of whether to attack or defend, he looked confused and forlorn."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

India skipper Rahul Dravid said he was willing to take full responsibility for his team's miserable World Cup campaign. "I am not sitting here and trying to shirk responsibility. I am the first one to stand up and say that we should have done better and it starts with me," said Dravid.<ref>https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/353/blame-me-for-india-world-cup-flop-says-dravid-cricbuzzcom</ref>

After the highly disappointing World Cup exit, Dravid's India toured England and secured a historic test series win in the 3 match test series, 1-0 winning the 2nd test at TrentBridge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The team narrowly lost the ODI series 3-4.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Dravid resigned from captaincy in September 2007. Per the then BCCI president Sharad Pawar, "Dravid told me during the recent tour of England that he wanted to step down. He said captaincy was affecting his batting and he now wants to concentrate on his game. After leading the team for two years, he wants the opportunity to go to some new person"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2011 Tour of England

Having regained his form on the tour to the West Indies, where he scored a match-winning hundred in Sabina park, Jamaica, Dravid then toured England in what was billed as the series that would decide the World No. 1 ranking in tests. In the first test at Lord's, in reply to England's 474, Dravid scored an undefeated 103, his first hundred at the ground where he debuted in 1996. He received scant support from his teammates as India's team was bowled out for 286 and lost the test.<ref>1st Test: England v India at Lord's, Jul 21–25, 2011 | Cricket Scorecard Template:Webarchive. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2013-12-23.</ref> The second test at Trentbridge in Nottingham again saw Dravid in successful form. Sent out to open the batting in place of an injured Gautam Gambhir, he scored his second successive hundred. His score of 117 again did not secure the team's victory, as a collapse of 6 wickets for 21 runs in the first innings led to a defeat by 319 runs.<ref>2nd Test: England v India at Nottingham, Jul 29 – Aug 1, 2011 | Cricket Scorecard Template:Webarchive. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2013-12-23.</ref> Dravid failed in both innings in the third test at Birmingham, as India lost by an innings and 242 runs, one of the heaviest defeats in their history.<ref>3rd Test: England v India at Birmingham, Aug 10–13, 2011 | Cricket Scorecard Template:Webarchive. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2013-12-23.</ref> However, during the fourth and final match at The Oval, he opened the batting in place of Gambhir, and scored an undefeated 146 out of India's total of 300, carrying his bat through the innings. Once again, though, his efforts were in vain as India lost the match in a 0–4 whitewash.<ref>4th Test: England v India at The Oval, Aug 18–22, 2011 | Cricket Scorecard Template:Webarchive. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2013-12-23.</ref> In total, he scored 461 runs in the four matches at an average of 76.83 with three hundreds. He accounted for over 26% of India's runs in the series and was named India's man of the series by English coach Andy Flower. Dravid's performance in the series was met with admiration.<ref>England v India: Rahul Dravid deserves our respect after frustrating England Template:Webarchive. Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-12-23.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Retirement

Rahul Dravid was dropped from the ODI team in 2009, but was selected again for an ODI series in England in 2011, surprising even Dravid himself since, although he had not officially retired from ODI cricket, he had not expected to be recalled.<ref name="ieaug11">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=toisept11>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=dnaaug11>Template:Cite news</ref> After being selected, he announced that he would retire from ODI cricket after the series.<ref name=ieaug11/> He played his last ODI innings against England at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on 16 September 2011, scoring 69 runs from 79 balls before being bowled by Graeme Swann.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His last limited-overs international match was his debut T20I match; he announced his retirement before playing his first T20I match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid announced his retirement from Test and domestic cricket on 9 March 2012, after the 2011–12 tour of Australia, but he said that he would captain the Rajasthan Royals in the 2012 Indian Premier League. He was the second-highest run scorer and had taken the highest number of catches in Test cricket at the time of his retirement.<ref name=toimar12>Template:Cite news</ref>

In July 2014, he played for the MCC side in the Bicentenary Celebration match at Lord's.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Coaching

Towards the end of his playing career, Dravid took on a role as mentor to the Rajasthan Royals' IPL team in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During this time, he also became involved with the Indian national team, serving as mentor during the team's tour of England in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After leading the Royals to a third-place finish in the 2015 IPL season, he was appointed as the head coach of the India U-19 and India A teams.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid achieved success as coach, with the U-19s reaching the finals of the 2016 U-19 Cricket World Cup. Two years later, the team went on to win the 2018 U-19 Cricket World Cup, defeating Australia by 8 wickets to win their fourth Under-19 World Cup, the most by any national side.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Dravid was credited with training future national team players including Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Washington Sundar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Alongside his coaching roles, Dravid took on several mentor roles, including at the Delhi Daredevils IPL team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In July 2019, following his four-year stint as coach of the junior teams, Dravid was appointed Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was in charge of "overseeing all cricket related activities at NCA was involved in mentoring, coaching, training and motivating players, coaches and support staff at the NCA". As head of NCA, he was praised for maintaining the senior team and revamping player fitness and rehabilitation regiments.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In November 2021, he was appointed as head coach of the Indian national cricket team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

County stint

Dravid had always been keen on further honing his batting skills in testing English conditions by playing in county cricket. He had discussed the prospects regarding the same with former New Zealand cricketer and incumbent Kent coach John Wright during India's 1998–99 tour of New Zealand. Wright was particularly impressed with Dravid's performance on that tour, especially with his twin hundreds at Hamilton. The talks finally materialized and Dravid made his county debut for Kent in April 2000. His co-debutant Ganguly made his county debuted in the same match, albeit for the opposite team.<ref name="county">Template:Cite book</ref>

Kent's offer had come as a welcome change for Dravid. There was too much negativity surrounding Indian cricket marred by the match fixing controversy. Dravid himself had been struggling to score runs in Tests for a while.<ref name="Oracle" /> The county stint gave him a chance to "get away to a new environment" and "relax". The wide variety of pitches and weather conditions in England and a full season of intense county cricket against professional cricketers gave him a chance to further his cricketing training.<ref name="county" />

In his 2nd game for Kent, Dravid scored a 182 runs, propelling them to an innings and a 163-runs victory over the touring Zimbabwe team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Out of 7 first class tour games that Zimbabwe played on that tour, Kent was the only team that defeated them. Dravid hit another fifty runs in a draw against Surrey. The newly appointed vice-captain had to leave the county championship temporarily, missing two championship games and two one-day games, to fulfill his national commitment. The Indian team, Dravid included, fared poorly in the Asia Cup and failed to qualify for the Final. Subsequently, Dravid returned to England to resume his county sojourn with Kent.<ref name="Oracle" /><ref name="county" />

In July 2000, Kent's away match against Hampshire at Portsmouth was billed as a showdown between two great cricketers – Warne and Dravid. Dravid came out on top. On a dustbowl, tailor-made to suit home team spinners, Warne took 4 wickets but could not take Dravid's. Coming in to bat at 15/2, Dravid faced 295 balls, scoring 137 runs – his maiden hundred in county championships. Dravid scored 73 not out in the second innings, leading Kent to a six wicket victory as Warne went wicketless.

In their last county game of the season, Kent needed one bonus point to prevent themselves from being relegated to the Second Division. Dravid made sure they stayed put in the First Division by winning the necessary bonus point with an inning of 77 runs.

Dravid concluded a successful stint with Kent, aggregating 1,221 runs from 16 first-class matches (15 county games and 1 tour game against Zimbabwe) at an average of 55.50, including 2 hundreds and 8 fifties. He shouldered Kent's batting single-handedly as the second best Kent batsman. Dravid contributed to Kent's county campaign not only with the bat but also with his fielding and bowling, taking 14 catches and 4 wickets at an average of 32.00.

Indian Premier League and Champions League

Dravid with RR teammate Shane Warne

RS Dravid's record in Twenty20 matches<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
League	Matches	Runs	HS	100s	50s	Avg.
T20I<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	1	31	31	0	0	31.00
IPL<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	89	2174	75*	0	11	28.23
CLT20<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	15	282	71	0	1	23.50

Rahul Dravid played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2008, 2009 and 2010. Later he played for the Rajasthan Royals and led them to the finals of Champions League T20 in 2013, and play-offs of the Indian Premier League in 2013. Dravid announced retirement from Twenty20 after playing the 2013 Champions League Twenty20 in September–October 2013.<ref>Never thought I'd play T20 cricket for so long, an emotional Dravid bids farewell : Featured, News – India Today Template:Webarchive. Indiatoday.intoday.in (7 October 2013). Retrieved 2013-12-23.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Playing style, stats and records

Dravid is known for his technique, and has been one of the most successful batsmen of the Indian cricket team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Early in his career, he was known as a defensive batsman who was best at playing Test cricket, and was dropped from the ODI squad due to a low strike rate. However, he later improved his ability to score well in ODIs, earning him the ICC Player of the Year award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His nickname of 'The Wall' in Reebok advertisements is now used as his nickname.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Dravid scored 36 centuries in Test cricket, with an average of 52.31 and this included five double centuries. In one-dayers, he averaged 39.16, with a strike rate of 71.23.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was one of the few Indians whose Test average was better while playing away than at home. Dravid's Test average abroad was 53.05, while his Test average at home was 51.35.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His ODI average abroad was 37.93<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and his ODI average at home was 43.11.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid averaged 65.78 in Indian Test victories<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 50.69 in ODIs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid's sole Test wicket was of Ridley Jacobs in the fourth Test match against the West Indies during the 2001–2002 series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dravid often kept wickets for India in ODIs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dravid was involved in two of the largest partnerships in ODIs: a 318-run partnership with Sourav Ganguly, the first pair to combine for a 300-run partnership,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a 331-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, which is a world record.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also holds the record for the greatest number of innings played since debut before being dismissed for a duck. His highest scores in ODIs and Tests are 153 and 270, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

An innings-by-innings breakdown of Dravid's Test match batting career, showing runs scored (red bars with purple bars for not out) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).

He was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Though primarily a defensive batsman, Dravid scored 50 runs not out in 22 balls (a strike rate of 227.27) against New Zealand in Hyderabad on 15 November 2003, the second fastest 50 among Indian batsmen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2004, Dravid was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 7 September 2004, he was awarded the inaugural Player of the year award and the Test player of the year award by the International Cricket Council (ICC).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After reaching the 10,000 Test runs milestone, he said, "It's a proud moment for sure. For me, growing up, I dreamt of playing for India. When I look back, I probably exceeded my expectations with what I have done over the last 10 to 12 years. I never had an ambition to do it because I never believed – it is just a reflection of my longevity in the game."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Dravid is also one of only two batsmen to score 10,000 runs at a single batting position and is the fourth highest run scorer in Test cricket, behind Tendulkar, Ponting and Kallis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Achievements and awards

President Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Bhushan to Dravid, c. 2013.

National honours

• 1998 – Arjuna Award recipient for achievements in cricket<ref name=Arjuna>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 2004 – Padma Shri – India's fourth highest civilian award<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 2013 – Padma Bhushan – India's third highest civilian award

Other honours

• 1999 – CEAT International Cricketer of the World Cup<ref name="Dravid player of world cup">Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2000 – Dravid was one of the five cricketers selected as Wisden Cricketer of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2004 – ICC Cricketer of the year – Highest award in the ICC listings<ref name=ICC_Awards>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 2004 – ICC Test Player of The Year, ICC Cricketer of The Year<ref name=ICC_Awards/>
• 2004 – MTV Youth Icon of the Year<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2006 – Captain of the ICC's Test Team<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2011 – NDTV Indian of the Year's Lifetime Achievement Award with Dev Anand<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2012 – Don Bradman Award with Glenn McGrath<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2015 – Wisden India's Highest Impact Test Batsman<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2018 – ICC Hall of Fame<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ESPNcricinfo"/>

Personal life

Family

On 4 May 2003, Dravid married Vijeta Pendharkar, a surgeon from Nagpur.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They have two children: Samit, born in 2005,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Anvay, born in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Social commitments

• Children's Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• UNICEF Supporter and AIDS Awareness Campaign<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Biographies

Books

Four biographies have been written on Rahul Dravid and his career:

• Rahul Dravid – A Biography written by Vedam Jaishankar (Template:ISBN). Publisher: UBSPD Publications. Date: January 2004<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Nice Guy Who Finished First written by Devendra Prabhudesai. Publisher: Rupa Publications. Date: November 2005<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• A collection of articles, testimonials and interviews related to Dravid was released by ESPNcricinfo following his retirement. The book was titled Rahul Dravid: Timeless Steel.

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:ESPNcricinfo