12 Innings when Rahul Dravid broke the myth of being just a Test batsman

10. 92* (63) v England, Bristol, 2007:

India started the second ODI against England in Bristol with a Tendulkar special and the Indian fans were at their joyous best. However, their frolics were cut short when Tendulkar was adjudged caught behind on 99 on a rising delivery from Andrew Flintoff. Fans were perplexed with sweet-and-sour emotions but Rahul Dravid who walked out to replace Sachin Tendulkar elevated their mood once again within the next hour.

A splendid 99 from Tendulkar was not enough. With short boundaries and a belter of a track, it was important for India to pile up a big total. Dravid rose up to the occasion inducing another perfect finish for India. He batted at run a ball till he got his eye in. India lost Yuvraj in the 41st over but Dravid stood firm to explode in the slog overs.

In the last 10 overs, he scored at least one boundary every over. Be it Flintoff, Broad or Anderson, there was no respite for anyone from Dravid’s willow. He bashed them all around the park. He mistimed a few but even those were placed in the gaps and went over the ropes. His six over point off James Anderson in the penultimate over was the highlight of the innings. The punishing innings came at a strike rate of 146 and was sufficient to form a solid reply to those criticising him for his pedestrian batting on the tour.

A hundred for the Indian captain and the team total, both were restricted by an efficient last over from Flintoff who ended with a 5-wicket haul. But Dravid managed to take India to 328 which proved just enough as they won the match by 8 runs. He eminently created a difference with his innings and won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for that.