5 areas where Rahul Dravid proved superior to Sachin Tendulkar

#4. Leading His Side to Successful Chase of 300+ Target While Remaining Unbeaten

Dravid played, arguably, played his best ODI innings against West Indies in 2002 at Ahmadabad

Sachin was part of and led India to many victories while chasing targets. His famous knock in the Final of the 1998 triangular series in Sharjah, which led India to victory over Australia, is stuff of legends.

But chasing 300+ targets, which became more common in the 2000s and the following decade, and remaining unbeaten till the end was something that he didn’t have too much success in.

Yes, Tendulkar did play a leading role in India’s victory over England in 2007 at The Oval when his team chased down 317. By scoring 94, he gave the India the platform to build their chase on and bagged the man-of-the-match award. But he was out when India’s score was 156 and it needed a brilliant innings from Robin Uthappa to seal the win in the last over.

Similarly, in 2009, at Hyderabad, Sachin's innings of 175 almost took India to a most improbable victory where they needed to chase down 351. However, with 19 to get off the last three overs, he got out and the lower order messed up a very likely win.

Dravid, though, had better fortune in a game played at Ahmedabad in 2002. West Indies had given India a target of 325 to chase under lights. Dravid, who batted at No.4, played a stellar innings of 109* and saw India home to an amazing triumph.

He was greatly helped by Sanjay Bangar who came into bat at No. 7 and played an unbelievably uncharacteristic innings of 57 off just 41 balls to provide the impetus needed for getting the better of the high required run-rate.

Remember, this match was taking place in 2002 when a target of 300 was still a very stiff one. Dravid played the role of the pivot around which the Indian reply developed. He was there at the end, his shirt dripping wet with sweat, getting his team home to a great win. This was possibly his best ODI innings and the like of which, unfortunately, Tendulkar didn't have.