Rahul Dravid - The Wall

About Rahul Dravid

Rahul Sharad Dravid (born January 11, 1973 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh) is an Indian cricketer, and the newest captain of the Indian cricket team. He is one of the top-ranked batsmen in world cricket and started his international cricket career in 1996. He is married to Vijetha Pendharkar, a Nagpur-based doctor, with whom he has a son, Samit, born October 2005.

As of November 2005, Dravid has the second highest Test batting average among those who have scored over 7,500 Test runs, just behind Gary Sobers.

He has been nicknamed "The Wall" (borrowed from a sports goods' advertisement that he featured in early on in his career) by the media due to the solidity and consistency of his batting.

During his early career, he was given the nickname "Jammy" as he appreared in a TV advertisement for Kisan Jam.


Rahul Dravid's Cricket Career

* 1973 - born January 11, 1973 in Indore
* 1984 - attended a summer coaching camp at KSCA's Chinnaswamy Stadium where his talents were spotted by former cricketer turned coach Keki Tarapore.
* scores his first century in an unofficial match for his school team St.Joseph's against St.Anthony's.
* scores a double hundred for the Karnataka schools team which he smashed against Kerala.
* selected for the under-15 Karnataka team.
* senior cricketers and administrators like G.R.Vishwanath, Roger Binny, Brijesh Patel and coach Keki Tarapore felt that it would suit Rahul better if he bid good-bye to the wicket keeping gloves for ever.So Dravid concentrated on his batting from then on.
* 1991 - Ranji debut against Maharashtra.
* 1996 - scores double century in the finals of the Ranji Trophy in 1996 against Tamil Nadu.
* 1996 - selected for India.
* 1996 - test debut at Lords, England after Sanjay Manjrekar is injured and Navjot Sidhu descides to stay back after fracas with Captain Azharuddin.Scores a brilliant 95.
* 1997 - Scores his maiden test hundred(148) Vs South Africa, third test, Johannesburg.
* 1997 - Scores his maiden one day hundred(107) in a losing cause Vs Pakistan, Independence Cup, Chennai.
* 1999 - Scores a hundred in both innings (190,103) against New Zealand in Hamilton.
* 1999 - Great World Cup, scores 3 fifties and 2 hundreds scoring 461 runs which was the highest by any batsman from any team.
* 1999 - In october he signs a deal with English county Kent for the 2000 season.
* 2001 - Scores 180 while Vangipurappu Laxman makes 281 in a fifth-wicket stand of 376 as India defeat Australia after following on to end Australia's 16-Test winning streak.
* 2004 - Scores career best 270 against Pakistan at Rawalpindi.India wins the series.
* 2005 - Appointed captain of Team India.
* 2005 - Dravid's Biography "The Nice Guy Who Finished First" authored by Devendra Prabhudesai released by coach Greg Chappell.
* 2006 - Dravid scores his first century as the Test captain of the Indian Cricket team in the first test against Pakistan in Lahore.