Sportskeeda's Top 50 Indian Test cricketers of all-time (10-1)

#5 Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid was the bulwark of India's batting lineup right throughout his stellar career

While Shane Warne declared that 'the bowling equivalent of a dozen cannon firing all at once' was needed to bring him down, Shoaib Akhtar went further and likened Rahul Dravid to the peerless Muhammad Ali. Even if one were to bring these towering plaudits to his cognisance, the man might just epitomise the same level of tranquility which formed the cornerstone of his batting.

Even as bucket-loads of sweat dripped down his face and soaked his shirt, the sight of Dravid summoning every ounce of concentration from his extensive reservoir represented the most deflating sight for any top-ranked bowler. Occupying the crucial number three position in the revered Indian batting lineup, he formed an enduring link between the flamboyant openers and the adored middle-order.

In terms of influencing the course of Test matches, no other Indian batsman has had a greater impact on the game than Dravid. Right from the moment he stepped into the international arena to the subtle nature of his exit from the traditional format, the technically unrivalled right-hander lived and played for the Indian team.

Career Span: 1996-2012

Statistics: 13,288 runs from 164 matches at an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries and 63 fifties