Cricket has a massive following in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a>. Millions of fans follow the game with unprecedented fervor in the country, and the sport is nothing short of a religion and cuts through geographical barriers as well.

And, the fans of the sport in India go to great lengths to know about their favorite players. Also, with the advent of social media, people can get to know what their cricketing idols are up to. But then, there are a few facts that many Indian cricket fans might not know, and these facts might even surprise them.

In fact, they might even sound fake to many cricket fans, but they are actually true. In this article, let us take a look at 5 such facts surrounding Indian cricket.

5. Virat Kohli scalped his first T20I wicket without bowling a single legal delivery

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-462577" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-Bowling.jpg" alt="Virat-Kohli-Bowling" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-462577" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mera-career-virat-bhaiya-ke-wajah-se-hai-mohammed-siraj-reveals-how-virat-kohli-has-backed-him-throughout-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> is generally in the news for his batting prowess. But then, the current Indian skipper is the only bowler in history to scalp his first T20I wicket without bowling a single legal delivery. The incident took place on 31st August 2011, in the encounter between India and England.

Kohli was brought on to bowl during the 8th over of the England innings. Kohli delivered his first ball in T20I cricket down the leg side to Kevin Pietersen, and the ball was adjudged as a wide. But then, the England batsman lost balance for a fraction of a second while trying to flick the ball, and MS Dhoni whipped the bails off in a flash. Pietersen was caught short of the crease. And so, without bowling a single legal delivery in his T20I career, Kohli scalped his first wicket.

Kohli did a decent job with the ball against England. He bowled 3 overs, gave away 22 runs, and scalped a single wicket. Kohli has played 89 T20I for India and has picked up 4 wickets, but his maiden T20I wicket will always remain a special one.

4. Mandeep Singh played for South Africa A as a substitute

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-414014" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mandee-Singh.jpg" alt="Mandeep Singh" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-414014" class="wp-caption-text">Mandeep Singh. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Many cricket fans will know Mandeep Singh as the player who is a part of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/punjab-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punjab Kings’</a> (PBKS) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The right-handed batsman has featured in 104 matches in the IPL and has scored 1659 runs at an average of 22.12 and a strike rate of 124.27.

He has also scored 6 fifties in the IPL. Mandeep Singh has also played 3 T20Is for India and has scored 87 runs. But then, how many of you know that Mandeep Singh actually played for South Africa A in the year 2015?

In the encounter between India A and South Africa A, as many as 4 South African players were suffering from stomach issues as well as cramps. And so, South Africa A called on Mandeep Singh to field for them in the match against the India A side.

In that encounter, the India A side comfortably coasted to a win against the South Africa A outfit courtesy a blistering 219-run opening stand between Unmukt Chand and Mayank Agarwal. While Agarwal scored 130 off 122 deliveries, Unmukt Chand helped himself to a classy 90 as India A posted an eight-wicket victory.

3. Virat Kohli was ranked among the Top 10 T20I all-rounders in 2017

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-496268" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-1-1.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-496268" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

We are not done with <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-aakash-chopra-picks-best-xi-of-the-tournament-so-far-leaves-out-rohit-sharma-and-virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> yet. In the year 2017, Kohli’s name was there in the Top 10 T20I all-rounders in the world. Yes, Kohli was ranked as the 10th best all-rounder in the world according to the ICC T20I rankings.

In November 2017, Kohli had accumulated 190 points and was placed at 10th place in the list of all-rounders. When Kohli was ranked at 10th place, Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan was occupying the top place in the rankings.

Another intriguing fact is, in 2017, Kohli did not bowl a single ball in T20Is but was still ranked at the 10th place in the list of all-rounders. Kohli is currently the highest run-scorer in T20I cricket and has plundered 3159 runs at a whopping average of 52.65.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410673" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Dravid-1.jpg" alt="Rahul Dravid" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410673" class="wp-caption-text">Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

Rahul Dravid is a legend of Indian cricket and commands tremendous respect in the cricketing world. The batting icon has scored over 10000 runs in both Test and ODI cricket and was a vital cog of the Indian batting lineup for a decade and a half. In fact, Dravid is the second-highest run-scorer for India in Test match cricket after <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sachin-was-very-soft-virat-comes-out-aggressive-venkatesh-prasad-draws-comparison-between-sachin-tendulkar-and-virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sachin Tendulkar</a> and has amassed 13288 runs in his Test career at an average of 52.31.

Even in ODI cricket, Dravid scored 10889 runs at an average of almost 40. But then, how many of us know that Dravid has actually played for Scotland? In the year 2003, Dravid offered his services for the Scotland side and played 11 ODI matches.

The batting legend scored 600 runs for the Scotland side in the 11 matches that he played and scored his runs at an average in excess of 60. Dravid last played an international match for India in January 2012.

1. Four Indian batsmen together put on an opening partnership of 408 runs for the first wicket

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-514682" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik-Wasim-Jaffer-Sachin-Tendulkar-and-Rahul-Dravid.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-514682" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Are you wondering how this happened? To understand this in more detail, let us travel to the year 2007. In May 2007, India and Bangladesh locked horns in the 2nd Test match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

India batted first and posted a mammoth total of 610/3 on the board. And, they lost their first wicket with their scorecard reading 408. But then, not two, but 4 batsmen helped India post an ‘opening’ partnership of 408.

Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik opened the batting for India. But then, Dinesh Karthik decided to get ‘retired’ during the Tea break on Day 1 as he could not withstand the extreme heat. So, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rahul-dravid-likely-to-coach-team-india-in-sri-lanka/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul Dravid</a> walked out and joined Jaffer out in the middle. And, when the Indian scorecard read 281, Wasim Jaffer could not carry on any further due to exhaustion, and he too retired when he was batting on 138. And, the iconic Sachin Tendulkar joined Dravid.

Dravid and Tendulkar made merry at the expense of the Bangladesh bowlers. But then, with the scorecard reading 408, Dravid was the first Indian batsman to be dismissed and hit Mohammed Rafique to the fielder who was stationed at point. And as a result, the first Indian wicket fell with the scorecard reading 408. Dinesh Karthik came back to bat once again and completed his century. He was dismissed for 129.

The ‘God of cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar too, scored a classy 122* as India finished with a total in excess of 600 in their first innings. The Bangladeshi willow wielders were not up to the task. In their first innings, they scored just 118 and were asked to follow on. In the second innings too, Bangladesh refused to show any fight and was bowled out for 253, as India thrashed their opposition by an innings and 239 runs.

Cricket has a massive following in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a>. Millions of fans follow the game with unprecedented fervor in the country, and the sport is nothing short of a religion and cuts through geographical barriers as well.
And, the fans of the sport in India go to great lengths to know about their favorite players. Also, with the advent of social media, people can get to know what their cricketing idols are up to. But then, there are a few facts that many Indian cricket fans might not know, and these facts might even surprise them.
In fact, they might even sound fake to many cricket fans, but they are actually true. In this article, let us take a look at 5 such facts surrounding Indian cricket.
<h3>5. Virat Kohli scalped his first T20I wicket without bowling a single legal delivery</h3>
<figure id="attachment_462577" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-462577" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-462577" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-Bowling.jpg" alt="Virat-Kohli-Bowling" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-462577" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mera-career-virat-bhaiya-ke-wajah-se-hai-mohammed-siraj-reveals-how-virat-kohli-has-backed-him-throughout-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> is generally in the news for his batting prowess. But then, the current Indian skipper is the only bowler in history to scalp his first T20I wicket without bowling a single legal delivery. The incident took place on 31st August 2011, in the encounter between India and England.
Kohli was brought on to bowl during the 8th over of the England innings. Kohli delivered his first ball in T20I cricket down the leg side to Kevin Pietersen, and the ball was adjudged as a wide. But then, the England batsman lost balance for a fraction of a second while trying to flick the ball, and MS Dhoni whipped the bails off in a flash. Pietersen was caught short of the crease. And so, without bowling a single legal delivery in his T20I career, Kohli scalped his first wicket.
Kohli did a decent job with the ball against England. He bowled 3 overs, gave away 22 runs, and scalped a single wicket. Kohli has played 89 T20I for India and has picked up 4 wickets, but his maiden T20I wicket will always remain a special one.
<h3>4. Mandeep Singh played for South Africa A as a substitute</h3>
<figure id="attachment_414014" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-414014" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-414014" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mandee-Singh.jpg" alt="Mandeep Singh" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-414014" class="wp-caption-text">Mandeep Singh. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Many cricket fans will know Mandeep Singh as the player who is a part of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/punjab-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punjab Kings’</a> (PBKS) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The right-handed batsman has featured in 104 matches in the IPL and has scored 1659 runs at an average of 22.12 and a strike rate of 124.27.
He has also scored 6 fifties in the IPL. Mandeep Singh has also played 3 T20Is for India and has scored 87 runs. But then, how many of you know that Mandeep Singh actually played for South Africa A in the year 2015?
In the encounter between India A and South Africa A, as many as 4 South African players were suffering from stomach issues as well as cramps. And so, South Africa A called on Mandeep Singh to field for them in the match against the India A side.
In that encounter, the India A side comfortably coasted to a win against the South Africa A outfit courtesy a blistering 219-run opening stand between Unmukt Chand and Mayank Agarwal. While Agarwal scored 130 off 122 deliveries, Unmukt Chand helped himself to a classy 90 as India A posted an eight-wicket victory.
<h3>3. Virat Kohli was ranked among the Top 10 T20I all-rounders in 2017</h3>
<figure id="attachment_496268" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-496268" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-496268" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-1-1.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-496268" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
We are not done with <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-aakash-chopra-picks-best-xi-of-the-tournament-so-far-leaves-out-rohit-sharma-and-virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> yet. In the year 2017, Kohli’s name was there in the Top 10 T20I all-rounders in the world. Yes, Kohli was ranked as the 10th best all-rounder in the world according to the ICC T20I rankings.
In November 2017, Kohli had accumulated 190 points and was placed at 10th place in the list of all-rounders. When Kohli was ranked at 10th place, Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan was occupying the top place in the rankings.
Another intriguing fact is, in 2017, Kohli did not bowl a single ball in T20Is but was still ranked at the 10th place in the list of all-rounders. Kohli is currently the highest run-scorer in T20I cricket and has plundered 3159 runs at a whopping average of 52.65.
<h3>2. Rahul Dravid played for Scotland</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410673" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410673" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-410673" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Dravid-1.jpg" alt="Rahul Dravid" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410673" class="wp-caption-text">Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Rahul Dravid is a legend of Indian cricket and commands tremendous respect in the cricketing world. The batting icon has scored over 10000 runs in both Test and ODI cricket and was a vital cog of the Indian batting lineup for a decade and a half. In fact, Dravid is the second-highest run-scorer for India in Test match cricket after <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sachin-was-very-soft-virat-comes-out-aggressive-venkatesh-prasad-draws-comparison-between-sachin-tendulkar-and-virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sachin Tendulkar</a> and has amassed 13288 runs in his Test career at an average of 52.31.
Even in ODI cricket, Dravid scored 10889 runs at an average of almost 40. But then, how many of us know that Dravid has actually played for Scotland? In the year 2003, Dravid offered his services for the Scotland side and played 11 ODI matches.
The batting legend scored 600 runs for the Scotland side in the 11 matches that he played and scored his runs at an average in excess of 60. Dravid last played an international match for India in January 2012.
<h3>1. Four Indian batsmen together put on an opening partnership of 408 runs for the first wicket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_514682" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-514682" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-514682" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik-Wasim-Jaffer-Sachin-Tendulkar-and-Rahul-Dravid.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-514682" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Are you wondering how this happened? To understand this in more detail, let us travel to the year 2007. In May 2007, India and Bangladesh locked horns in the 2nd Test match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
India batted first and posted a mammoth total of 610/3 on the board. And, they lost their first wicket with their scorecard reading 408. But then, not two, but 4 batsmen helped India post an ‘opening’ partnership of 408.
Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik opened the batting for India. But then, Dinesh Karthik decided to get ‘retired’ during the Tea break on Day 1 as he could not withstand the extreme heat. So, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rahul-dravid-likely-to-coach-team-india-in-sri-lanka/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul Dravid</a> walked out and joined Jaffer out in the middle. And, when the Indian scorecard read 281, Wasim Jaffer could not carry on any further due to exhaustion, and he too retired when he was batting on 138. And, the iconic Sachin Tendulkar joined Dravid.
Dravid and Tendulkar made merry at the expense of the Bangladesh bowlers. But then, with the scorecard reading 408, Dravid was the first Indian batsman to be dismissed and hit Mohammed Rafique to the fielder who was stationed at point. And as a result, the first Indian wicket fell with the scorecard reading 408. Dinesh Karthik came back to bat once again and completed his century. He was dismissed for 129.
The ‘God of cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar too, scored a classy 122* as India finished with a total in excess of 600 in their first innings. The Bangladeshi willow wielders were not up to the task. In their first innings, they scored just 118 and were asked to follow on. In the second innings too, Bangladesh refused to show any fight and was bowled out for 253, as India thrashed their opposition by an innings and 239 runs.

Cricket has a massive following in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a>. Millions of fans follow the game with unprecedented fervor in the country, and the sport is nothing short of a religion and cuts through geographical barriers as well.
And, the fans of the sport in India go to great lengths to know about their favorite players. Also, with the advent of social media, people can get to know what their cricketing idols are up to. But then, there are a few facts that many Indian cricket fans might not know, and these facts might even surprise them.
In fact, they might even sound fake to many cricket fans, but they are actually true. In this article, let us take a look at 5 such facts surrounding Indian cricket.
<h3>5. Virat Kohli scalped his first T20I wicket without bowling a single legal delivery</h3>
<figure id="attachment_462577" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-462577" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-462577" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-Bowling.jpg" alt="Virat-Kohli-Bowling" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-462577" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mera-career-virat-bhaiya-ke-wajah-se-hai-mohammed-siraj-reveals-how-virat-kohli-has-backed-him-throughout-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> is generally in the news for his batting prowess. But then, the current Indian skipper is the only bowler in history to scalp his first T20I wicket without bowling a single legal delivery. The incident took place on 31st August 2011, in the encounter between India and England.
Kohli was brought on to bowl during the 8th over of the England innings. Kohli delivered his first ball in T20I cricket down the leg side to Kevin Pietersen, and the ball was adjudged as a wide. But then, the England batsman lost balance for a fraction of a second while trying to flick the ball, and MS Dhoni whipped the bails off in a flash. Pietersen was caught short of the crease. And so, without bowling a single legal delivery in his T20I career, Kohli scalped his first wicket.
Kohli did a decent job with the ball against England. He bowled 3 overs, gave away 22 runs, and scalped a single wicket. Kohli has played 89 T20I for India and has picked up 4 wickets, but his maiden T20I wicket will always remain a special one.
<h3>4. Mandeep Singh played for South Africa A as a substitute</h3>
<figure id="attachment_414014" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-414014" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-414014" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mandee-Singh.jpg" alt="Mandeep Singh" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-414014" class="wp-caption-text">Mandeep Singh. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Many cricket fans will know Mandeep Singh as the player who is a part of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/punjab-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punjab Kings’</a> (PBKS) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The right-handed batsman has featured in 104 matches in the IPL and has scored 1659 runs at an average of 22.12 and a strike rate of 124.27.
He has also scored 6 fifties in the IPL. Mandeep Singh has also played 3 T20Is for India and has scored 87 runs. But then, how many of you know that Mandeep Singh actually played for South Africa A in the year 2015?
In the encounter between India A and South Africa A, as many as 4 South African players were suffering from stomach issues as well as cramps. And so, South Africa A called on Mandeep Singh to field for them in the match against the India A side.
In that encounter, the India A side comfortably coasted to a win against the South Africa A outfit courtesy a blistering 219-run opening stand between Unmukt Chand and Mayank Agarwal. While Agarwal scored 130 off 122 deliveries, Unmukt Chand helped himself to a classy 90 as India A posted an eight-wicket victory.
<h3>3. Virat Kohli was ranked among the Top 10 T20I all-rounders in 2017</h3>
<figure id="attachment_496268" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-496268" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-496268" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-1-1.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-496268" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
We are not done with <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-aakash-chopra-picks-best-xi-of-the-tournament-so-far-leaves-out-rohit-sharma-and-virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> yet. In the year 2017, Kohli’s name was there in the Top 10 T20I all-rounders in the world. Yes, Kohli was ranked as the 10th best all-rounder in the world according to the ICC T20I rankings.
In November 2017, Kohli had accumulated 190 points and was placed at 10th place in the list of all-rounders. When Kohli was ranked at 10th place, Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan was occupying the top place in the rankings.
Another intriguing fact is, in 2017, Kohli did not bowl a single ball in T20Is but was still ranked at the 10th place in the list of all-rounders. Kohli is currently the highest run-scorer in T20I cricket and has plundered 3159 runs at a whopping average of 52.65.
<h3>2. Rahul Dravid played for Scotland</h3>
<figure id="attachment_410673" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-410673" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-410673" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Dravid-1.jpg" alt="Rahul Dravid" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-410673" class="wp-caption-text">Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Rahul Dravid is a legend of Indian cricket and commands tremendous respect in the cricketing world. The batting icon has scored over 10000 runs in both Test and ODI cricket and was a vital cog of the Indian batting lineup for a decade and a half. In fact, Dravid is the second-highest run-scorer for India in Test match cricket after <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sachin-was-very-soft-virat-comes-out-aggressive-venkatesh-prasad-draws-comparison-between-sachin-tendulkar-and-virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sachin Tendulkar</a> and has amassed 13288 runs in his Test career at an average of 52.31.
Even in ODI cricket, Dravid scored 10889 runs at an average of almost 40. But then, how many of us know that Dravid has actually played for Scotland? In the year 2003, Dravid offered his services for the Scotland side and played 11 ODI matches.
The batting legend scored 600 runs for the Scotland side in the 11 matches that he played and scored his runs at an average in excess of 60. Dravid last played an international match for India in January 2012.
<h3>1. Four Indian batsmen together put on an opening partnership of 408 runs for the first wicket</h3>
<figure id="attachment_514682" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-514682" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-514682" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik-Wasim-Jaffer-Sachin-Tendulkar-and-Rahul-Dravid.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-514682" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Are you wondering how this happened? To understand this in more detail, let us travel to the year 2007. In May 2007, India and Bangladesh locked horns in the 2nd Test match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
India batted first and posted a mammoth total of 610/3 on the board. And, they lost their first wicket with their scorecard reading 408. But then, not two, but 4 batsmen helped India post an ‘opening’ partnership of 408.
Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik opened the batting for India. But then, Dinesh Karthik decided to get ‘retired’ during the Tea break on Day 1 as he could not withstand the extreme heat. So, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rahul-dravid-likely-to-coach-team-india-in-sri-lanka/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rahul Dravid</a> walked out and joined Jaffer out in the middle. And, when the Indian scorecard read 281, Wasim Jaffer could not carry on any further due to exhaustion, and he too retired when he was batting on 138. And, the iconic Sachin Tendulkar joined Dravid.
Dravid and Tendulkar made merry at the expense of the Bangladesh bowlers. But then, with the scorecard reading 408, Dravid was the first Indian batsman to be dismissed and hit Mohammed Rafique to the fielder who was stationed at point. And as a result, the first Indian wicket fell with the scorecard reading 408. Dinesh Karthik came back to bat once again and completed his century. He was dismissed for 129.
The ‘God of cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar too, scored a classy 122* as India finished with a total in excess of 600 in their first innings. The Bangladeshi willow wielders were not up to the task. In their first innings, they scored just 118 and were asked to follow on. In the second innings too, Bangladesh refused to show any fight and was bowled out for 253, as India thrashed their opposition by an innings and 239 runs.

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