Rahul Dravid: The Wall that stood tall in all conditions

Dream debut World Cup - 1999

Dravid slowly began to adapt to the format

Dravid, on his World Cup debut, against South Africa in Brighton on 15th May 1999, made a hard-earned 54 with five fours before being bowled by Klusener in bowling-friendly conditions.

The Indian team then faced Kenya in Bristol on 23rd May. Dravid scored his maiden World Cup hundred and ended up remaining not out on 104 off 109 balls with 10 fours. India posted a mammoth total of 329 runs and went on to win the game by 94 runs.

Sri Lanka were India's next opponents and Dravid walked in at number three to accompany Ganguly early on. The celebrated pair added 318 runs for the second wicket, with Dravid scoring a magnificent 145 courtesy 17 fours and a six. India posted a mammoth total of 373 and won the game quite easily by 157 runs.

With another fifty against Pakistan, Dravid emerged as the leading run scorer of the tournament with 461 runs at an average of 65.85 and a strike rate in excess of 85.