'If I bat for an hour tomorrow, you'll see a big one' - Rahul Dravid's light-hearted prediction which came true in Rawapindi Test in 2004

India tour of Pakistan 2003-04 is remembered for many reasons. It marked the resumption of the bilateral ties between the arch-rivals and team India players made sure it turned out to be memorable for them. While Virender Sehwag smashed a sensational triple century in Multan, the likes of Irfan Pathan, Lakshmipathy Balaji and Anil Kumble starred with the ball. However, it was Rahul Dravid who stole the limelight with his exceptional 270-run knock in the decider Test in Rawalpindi.

His innings helped India win the third and final Test and also seal the series by 2-1. Interestingly, the man himself has revealed now that he had predicted his big knock light-heartedly after being not-out on 15 at stumps on Day 1. Pakistan were bundled out for 224 runs in the first innings and the visitors were left with a tricky period to tackle before the end of day’s play.

The local boy Shoaib Akhtar stunned India by sending back the in-form Virender Sehwag which brought the struggling Rahul Dravid, who had registered scores of 6, 33 and 0 until then, to the middle. India’s wall then managed to see off the day along with Parthiv Patel to remain unbeaten on 15.

Rahul Dravid recalls feeling good about his batting after Day 1

On the same day in the evening, when Dravid went for dinner where a few journalists were around as well, he was feeling extremely good about his batting. Interestingly, the man who was not known to be talking much, made a light-hearted prediction stating that if he bats for an hour on the second day, he will play a big knock.

And the rest is history as India’s solid number three turned out to be a nightmare for Pakistan as Rahul Dravid registered his career-best score of 270 to propel India to a score of 600. The 47-year-old, while speaking in Star Sports’ Cricket Connected show, conceded it was just the light-hearted prediction but many were stunned to know how it came true.

“I remember being 15 or something at the close of play on Day 1. I had just gone down to have dinner with a few people that night and just happened to be sitting, a few journalists were around as well. I just felt really good about my batting at that stage, I felt that I’ve batted well for the 15 runs, I felt I had batted well in the series with no significant score.

“So As I was leaving, I sort of made this off the cuff remark, didn’t really mean it that much. But I said, ‘look if I get set tomorrow and bat for an hour, you know you’re gonna see a big one from me. And so it happened, I went on to score 270 so people came and said, ‘how did you know’ and all that,” Rahul Dravid said.

On the back of his scintillating knock, Pakistan were put under extreme pressure and their batting collapsed for the second time in the game. The hosts were bundled out for just 245 runs in their second essay as India won the match by an innings and 131 runs and also took the trophy home.