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

9. 105 (102) v West Indies, Jamaica, 2006:

India were expected to mend their ODI record against a substandard West Indies side but their hopes start fading away as Chris Gayle cracked up a hundred handling India a daunting 252 runs to chase within 45 overs in the first ODI. Rahul Dravid had the added pressure of captaincy and he was also opening the innings (a batting position he wasn’t fond of) but the Indian captain was at par with every challenge.

India lost three wickets for less than 100 runs but Dravid batted with flawless timing. He pulled the ball with unmatchable grace (except for the top edge but even that went for six over the keeper’s head) and drove with luscious elegance. The required run rate went over 7 approaching the end overs but Dravid never let the game go out of control. A slog sweep deposited the ball in the stands was memorable. Kaif at the other end was patchy but Dravid took care of that too in a 125-run stand. His 99-ball hundred was a great example of a captain’s knock under tough circumstances.

He got out for 105 trying to up the ante but was caught off a mistimed shot in the air. Kaif finished the chase with a ball to spare as India drew first blood. It was the last hundred of Dravid’s ODI career. He won the man of the match for his contribution but later the significance of the innings was limited to avoiding a clean sweep in the series as WI won it 4-1.