What pops up in your mind when one speaks of Rahul Dravid? Those long innings. That hard grind on the pitch. That solid defence.
This is more or less associated with Dravid’s style of play. And it gave him a lot of runs.
But Dravid shackled that image of him in an ODI match in 2003. He brought up a 22-ball fifty! So unlike him, isn’t it? And he did it when T20 cricket was a few months old!
So, here’s how Dravid’s fastest fifty in ODI cricket came about. Before that, here’s some background info.
The Context
Triangular series were quite popular in the early 2000s. And India hosted one, the TVS Cup, involving Australia and New Zealand, in 2003.
It was a 10-match affair, with eight games done. Australia were through to the final.
But the second finalist wasn’t yet decided. So the ninth match between India and New Zealand was a do-or-die.
Both teams had 10 points going into the match. So a loss wasn’t an option.
India’s captain, Sourav Ganguly, won the toss and chose to bat first. The openers, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, proved his decision right.
They put up a 182-run first-wicket stand in 30.1 overs. Tendulkar was the first to fall after a 91-ball 102.
Skipper, then, chipped in with 33 off 31. Sehwag, meanwhile, brought up 130 in 134 balls.
The Delhi opener lost his wicket on 283 for 3 on 43.4 overs. Out came Rahul Dravid at No. 5.
But India lost another wicket at the start of the 44th over. Yuvraj Singh, who would’ve played a finisher’s knock, walked back to the dugout.
New Zealand must’ve felt a bit relieved. But they weren’t aware of what’s gonna hit them next.
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Dravid’s Unexpected Carnage
After Yuvraj’s dismissal, VVS Laxman joined Dravid. Both played out the next seven balls cautiously.
And then Dravid started his unexpected onslaught. He flicked Scott Styris for a powerful four on the leg side. The right-hander ended the 46th over with a six over extra cover.
The 47th over didn’t start well. India lost Laxman on 303. Kaif was the new batter in.
Laxman’s dismissal didn’t bother Dravid much. He slashed an outside off delivery for a four off Daryl Tuffey.
With just seven runs from the 47th over, Dravid made the next over count. He carted out Jacob Oram for a six first ball. Then came consecutive fours on the fourth and fifth balls – one through the covers and a paddle flick behind square.
Dravid continued the momentum in the 49th over. He scored a four and a run to watch Kaif do some damage.
In the last over, Dravid mustered the nine runs needed for his fifty. He hammered Oram for a maximum over long-on on the third ball, then stole a run.
Dravid returned to the crease to face the last ball. One ball. Two runs. That’s what he needed.
And he drove an outside-off delivery towards the square to bring up a 22-ball fifty, the joint second-fastest for India!
As Dravid ran the two, he had an animated celebration, a bit unusual of him. The Hyderabad crowd acknowledged Dravid’s rare yet crucial fiery knock.
His quick half-century powered India to 353 for 5, which proved more than enough to roll into the final.
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