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

12. 31 (21) v England, Manchester, 2011 (Only T20I):

When it seemed that Dravid will finish his career without playing any T20 cricket for India, he made his T20I debut under tragic circumstances. After an exhausting Test series, selectors surprisingly asked Dravid to stay for the ODI leg of the tour as well and it seemed like a pretty requisite decision after a horrific Test series for every Indian batsman except Rahul Dravid.

On the other hand, Dravid called time on his career in the blue jersey declaring the forthcoming ODI series as his last. After all this drama, he was still not expected to play the only T20 scheduled on the tour. But with no experience in the side, the heads turned to Dravid again. He was set to become the only cricketer to have announced his retirement before making his debut in any format of international cricket.

Not sure whether Dravid walked out to bat with the collywobbles of a debut or the emotions of a swansong but he started in a scratchy manner. He tried to hit the ball too hard, edged the ball, struggled for timing on many occasions before he faced Samit Patel against whom he astonished everyone by hitting the first six of the Indian innings. Patel made the mistake of bowling in the slot and Dravid clobbered the ball for one of the mightiest sixes of his career. Not satisfied, he shimmied down the track next ball and lofted Patel over long-on. There was another ball left in the over and Dravid slog-swept Samit to complete a hat-trick of sixes.

After holding the fort for India throughout the Test series, Dravid was also taking the onus to hit the big shots in colored clothing. Harsha Bhogle beautifully concluded Dravid’s spirit from the commentary box stating: “You ask him to walk on water and he will ask how many kilometers?”

Just when he seemed like owning the T20 format, he butchered the ball straight to Eoin Morgan in the next over. His T20 career for India lasted for barely half an hour but the three sixes will stay as an immortal memory with his fans and also those who questioned his six hitting capabilities.

Also read – 11 quotes that define Rahul Dravid as a cricketer and a human being

Honourable Mentions:

153 (153) v New Zealand, Hyderabad, 1999

79 (70) v South Africa, Nagpur, 2000

80 (84) v Australia, Bangalore, 2001

73*(86) v England, Lord’s, 2002

104 (93) v UAE, Dambulla, 2004

75* (71) v Rest of the World XI (for Asia XI), Melbourne, 2005

Written by Shubham Aggarwal