This is Part 7 of Legends of Indian Cricket, our 20-part series on the players who shaped the game in India. New here? Start with Part 1: Vinoo Mankad, or read the previous part, Part 6: Anil Kumble.
When India needed someone to hold firm, it turned to Rahul Dravid. Born in Indore in 1973 and raised in Bengaluru, he earned the nickname "The Wall" for his rock-solid defence, patience and calm under pressure.
A quiet debut
Dravid made his Test debut at Lord's in 1996, scoring 95, in the same match where Sourav Ganguly scored a century on debut.
Epic innings
- Kolkata 2001: Following on against Australia, Dravid scored 180 and added 376 with VVS Laxman to set up one of Test cricket's greatest comebacks.
- Adelaide 2003: 233 and 72 not out to win a Test in Australia.
- England 2011: Three centuries in a series India lost badly, often while others failed.
Career in numbers
- 164 Tests, 13,288 runs and 36 centuries.
- 344 ODIs and 10,889 runs.
- 210 Test catches, a record for a fielder when he retired.
- He faced more balls in Test cricket than anyone else.
Team first
Dravid kept wicket in ODIs, including at the 2003 World Cup, to balance the side. As captain from 2005 to 2007, he led India to a Test series win in England in 2007.
The coach
- Coached India Under-19 to the 2018 World Cup title.
- Head coach of the Indian team from 2021 to 2024, signing off by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Legacy
Dravid was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2013 and inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2018. He remains a model of discipline, humility and sportsmanship.
Statistics are for international cricket and are correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026; figures for active players will change.
Next in the series: Part 8: Sourav Ganguly.
