Rahul Dravid: The Wall that stood tall in all conditions

England 2011

Dravid celebrates his Lord's century

The first Test of India's tour of England in 2011 began at Lord's on the 21st of July, 2011. England declared their first innings on 474/8, following which India got themselves off to a good start as Gautam Gambhir and Abhinav Mukund put up 63 for the first wicket.

Out walked Rahul Dravid at the fall of the first wicket. India lost wickets at regular intervals, but Dravid held firm at one end and scored his maiden Lord's 100.

He waged a lone battle, scoring 103* that included 15 fours. India eventually lost the game by 196 runs.

After the loss at Lord's, India faced England in the second Test at Nottingham on the 29th of July, 2011. Late heroics from Stuart Broad ensured that England put on a fighting 221, after having slumped to 121/8.

Dravid walked out to open the Indian innings and scored his second hundred of the series. He scored a graceful 117, with 15 fours. However, it was not enough to prevent England from winning the match.

India then succumbed at Edgbaston as well, thanks to Alastair Cook's 294 in the first innings. With the series in favour of England 3-0, the teams travelled to London for the final Test at the Oval on 18th August 2011.

In reply to England's 591/6, Indian openers Dravid and Virender Sehwag walked out to the crease. James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan were lethal with the new ball and India were reduced to 95/5 with "The Wall" holding fort at one end.

Dravid scored a majestic 146* off 266 balls, with 20 fours. He ended up carrying his bat and when India were asked to follow-on, Dravid came back again as an opener. He received a standing ovation after being dismissed by Graeme Swann in the second innings.

The Indians were whitewashed in the Test series. But there was one man who weathered the storm - Rahul Dravid. He was adjudged the Man of the Series for scoring 461 runs at 76.83 with three fighting hundreds.

Dravid was in sparkling form in his lone T20I innings

Owing to his brilliant performances in the Test series, Dravid was picked for the T20I and ODI series against England as well. However, immediately after being picked, he announced his retirement from limited overs cricket post the completion of the series.

Dravid came in at number three when MS Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat in the lone T20I at Manchester. After getting rid of early jitters, he smashed England spinner Samit Patel for three sixes in a row but was dismissed soon after by Ravi Bopara.

Dravid scored 31 runs off 21 balls in his lone T20I innings, a match India lost by six wickets.

'The Wall' didn't have a great ODI series, but formed a wonderful partnership with Virat Kohli in his final ODI match for his nation. The former Indian captain scored 69 runs off 79 balls with four fours before being bowled by Graeme Swann.

That marked the end of an outstanding ODI career.