Dravid's Debut in Cricket - Part 2

       As like 1992-93 season, Dravid went on with his impressive knocks in 1993-94 season as well.. He scored 93 runs for Rest of India in the Irani Trophy under the captaincy of Sanjay Manjrekar against punjab.. Later on he represented South zone in the Duleep Trophy scoring 67 and 148 against central zone..This made the national selectors to call Dravid for replacing Manoj Prabakar and Nayan Mongia due to some slow batting issues in the tri-series comprising West Indies and New Zealand.. Despite being selected for the national team, Dravid couldn't make into the playing eleven amidst many stalwarts in the team.. 

Continuing back in first class matches, Dravid was playing his part for SAARC cup, Board President's XI..At the end of 1994-95 season, Dravid scored more than 1000 first class runs.. Then comes the 1995-96 Ranji season  in which Dravid has an average of 80.66 in just 11 matches with 5 centuries and 3 half-centuries.. Despite having loads of runs under his bat, Dravid couldn't make into the selection of World Cup 1996.. It was all because the presence of some experienced players like Sidhu, Kambli, Ajay Jadeja, Sanjay Manjrekar, Sachin Tendulkar and the captain Azharuddin.. Later Dravid was selected for Singer Cup series..Dravid made his ODI debut on 3rd April, 1996 against Sri Lanka in which he scored only 3 runs...Then he got to score 107 runs, his maiden ODI century against Pakistan in 1997 at M.A.Chidambaram stadium, Chennai.

Atlast the dream came true for technically talented Dravid who was waiting for long time to get into the National team.. Dravid was selected for the tour of England comprising One-dayers and test series.. Along with Dravid, five more members were to make their debut..One among them was Sourav Ganguly, who made debut along with Dravid..He was also asked whether he could keep behind the wickets if he was asked to, since Nayan Mongia who was selected.. From there he started doing everything he was asked to do on the field for the team's sake.. Before this tour it has been eight years back when Dravid was playing a wicket-keeper role..

In the second test of the England tour, Dravid scored his debut test runs at the prestigious Home of Cricket, The Lord's.. He scored 95 runs comprising six boundaries.. Even-though he was upset on missing a century, it would really be a proud moment for a cricketer to play at the Home of cricket, The Lord's.. Same as Dravid felt..

Pictures Courtesy : My collections from the web

Keep reading.... :)