A look back at the 7 greatest Indian Test innings of the 21st Century

2. Rahul Dravid 233 vs Australia at Adelaide, 2003

2nd Test Australia v India Day Three

Rahul Dravid or ‘The Wall’ was the man for crisis in Indian cricket. Whenever the going got tough, Dravid would also get going. When Australia piled up 556 in the first innings at Adelaide, The Wall came up with a fitting response.

Dravid played a near-perfect innings at Adelaide, displaying bags of patience and superlative technical nous. At one stage, India were tottering at 85-4. Dravid and Laxman came together and ensured that India did not follow-on. The former batted till the end and was the final wicket to fall.

The Wall got India to 523 and laid the foundation for a famous victory on Australian soil. Australia crumbled in the second innings and Dravid finished off the match with an impressive 72* in the fourth innings.

With all the odds stacked against him, Dravid passed with flying colours. Like many a time before, he had stood strong in the face of adversity.

The innings at Adelaide was one of the greatest displays of grit and determination and it helped India gain an improbable lead in the test series. For all these reasons, it is the runner-up on our list.