Dravid's Debut in Cricket - Part 1

               As Rahul Dravid started playing cricket right from age of 12, he took part in under 15, under 17 and under 19 representing Karnataka.. He made his First class debut in a Ranji Trophy tournament in February 1991(1990-1991 Ranji season) against Maharashtra in Nehru stadium, Pune.. Dravid's first captain (In Ranji's) was former Indian Wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani.. Dravid scored 82 runs in his debut Ranji match.. A notable feature in that match was Dravid batted at no. 7 position.. Then he scored his maiden first-class hundred in his second Ranji match against Bengal with an innings of 134.. Then in 1991-1992 season he consecutively scored two centuries 126 and 128 against Goa & Kerala respectively..

              It was in that season Dravid was appointed as captain of an Under-19 Indian team for
New Zealand series comprising two test matches.. Dravid proved his best in his very first test match as a captain by a thrilling 12-run win in the first test and a draw on the second test.. In the second test he scored his first century of 116 runs against an overseas team.. Hence under his captaincy the under-19 team has won the test series 1-0 and the ODI series 2-1.. Dravid even proved his bowling figures in one day series as an off-spinner bagging 5 wickets for 99 runs.




              G.R.Viswanath, former Indian Batsmen who was one of the legends whom Rahul admired in cricket said that he was impressed on this budding cricketer's techniques.. He further has mentioned that Dravid being a back foot player it is one of the advantage for a batsmen because he has plenty of time to play a stroke.. Hence Dravid got many admirers right from his debut, most of them were former Indian players who witnessed him at first class level..Then Rahul went on to score his first double hundred 200* in the 1992-93 season against Andhra Pradesh in Ranji Trophy..

After this astonishing performance, G.R.Viswanath commented as follows :
"I was longing to watch a long innings by Rahul, and he obliged with that performance against Andhra. I was immensely happy for him, and convinced that he had it in him to make it big"

It would be a relishing moment for Dravid to hear it from his favorite cricketer..There are too many remarkable innings played by Dravid in first class cricket.. Lets continue it in part 2..


                               

Pictures Courtesy : My collections from the web

Keep watching for part-2....... :)