Rahul Dravid's top 6 ODI knocks in Indian victories

One of Indias premier batsman, Rahul Dravid, made his Test match debut for India in 1996. Voted as the Test Cricketer for the year 2004, Rahul Dravid finished his Test career with a batting average of over 52and his solid technique earned him the nickname The Wall.Dravid batted in the middle order for most part of his career in ODI cricket. Here is a look at Rahul Dravids top 6 ODI knocks in Indian victories.

#6 145 vs Sri Lanka, Taunton, 1999

Rahul Dravid peaked during the Group Stage game against Sri Lanka in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, a tournament he would eventually end up as the highest run getter (461 runs from 8 matches).

Dravid was invovled in a 318-run stand with Sourav Ganguly (183) for the second wicket, and together the pair took the Indian total to a record total of 373-6. Dravid sturck 17 fours and one six during this marathon effort, which kept Indias hopes of progressingin the World Cup alive. India won the match comfortably by 157 runs.

#5 80 vs Australia, Bengaluru, 2001

Following Indias famous come from behind victory in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Test series, India sqaured up for five ODIs against Australia in April 2001.

In the first ODI at Bengaluru, Dravids home ground, India were struggling to get a move onbatting first. Dravid steadied the Indian innings in the middle overs and then acclerated the scoring rate after the 30thover. Dravid put on exactly 100 runs for the fifth wicket with Virender Sehwag (58) as India started to build towards a strong finish. Dravid scored 80 from 84 balls, and India finished on 315 all out. A spirited performance from the Indian bowlers in the second innings took India to a 60-run victory.

#4 99 vs Pakistan, Karachi, 2004

India and Pakistan resumed cricketing ties after five years in early 2004. The first of five ODI matches between the two sides was played at the National Stadium in Karachi.

India batted first on a flat track that offered hardly anything for the bowlers on a sweltering afternoon in the Pakistancoastal city. Dravid walked out to bat at number four,in the 15^thover, by when India had raced to142-2. Scoring at close to a run-a-ball, Dravid had two solid stands in the middle overs, first with Sourav Ganguly, and later with Mohammad Kaif. India had crossed the 300-run mark asDravid looked to providea strong finish.

Two neatly driven fours in the 90s took Dravid to 99. But with each balllooking to be scored of, Dravid was early on a slower deliveryfrom Pakistans Shoaib Akthar. The ball hit the inside edge of Dravids bat and then went ontothe stumps.

Dravid was dismissed just one run short of a what would have been awell-deserved hundred. India won the thriller by 5 runs later in the day. Dravid, who was keeping wickets in the match, took two catches behind the stumps, including a crucial one, thatof Inzamam-ul-Haq (122).

#3 109* vs West Indies, Ahmedabad, 2002

In a tough year for Rahul Dravid in limited-overs cricket, one knock spoke volumes about histemperament and abilties as a quality batsman.

Dravid remained unbeaten during this knock, his sixth ODI century,and guided India to a handsome victoryat the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad in November 2002. India earlier in the day were at the receiving end of a Chris Gayle blitz, as the West Indies opening batsman smashed 140 runs off 127 balls. India, in pursuit of 325 looked to be out of the match at 209-4, but Dravid stood tall and was involved in an unbroken 94-run stand with Sanjay Bangar (57*). India won the match by 5 wickets with 14 balls remaining.

#2 53* vs New Zealand, Centurion, 2003

India were on a roll in the 2003 World Cup, having won seven consecutive matches to reach the Super Sixes. In a match against New Zealand on 14 March 2003, India looked set to better that record with one more victory when they bowled out New Zealand for just 146.

New Zealand speedster Shane Bond however had other ideas and started hitting the 150 kmph on a regular basis. India were reduced to 9-2 after just four overs. Dravid was lucky to survive a dropped chance by wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum just two overs later. With Tendulkar gone for 15, India’s run chase of the small total looked harder. Dravid brought all his experience to the fore and saw out everything the New Zealand bowlers threw at him. Slowly but surely, India started to make a move towards the target.

Dravid took 89 balls to score 53, and batted right till the end. The innings was a tribute to Dravid’s brilliant technique and it yet again proved beyond doubt Dravid’s value to the Indian ODI side.

#1 105* vs West Indies, Kingston, 2006

A Rahul Dravid special.

Captaining the ODI side for the tour of West Indies in 2006, Dravid decided to open the batting. In the first ODI at the Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, India were once again at the receiving end of a Chris Gayle hundred. Gayle smashed 123, but India still managed to restrict the West Indies to a gettable total of 251. India’s inexperienced batting line-up meant it was Dravid’s responsibility to take charge of the run chase.

Dravid hit the West Indian pacers all over the park and also scored at better than a run-a-ball right throughout his knock. India were just 43 runs shy of the target when Dravid was finally dismissed for 105. This was Dravid’s 12th (and final) ODI hundred. India won the match by 5 wickets.