RAHUL DRAVID 217, 2002 & 146*, 2011
Rahul Dravid is the highest run-getter for India at the Oval with over 440 runs. He has played two marvelous innings at the Oval and we have decided to present both of them to you as his best at the ground.
The first innings was a magnificent double hundred- 217 in the 2002 series. India had come into the fourth Test of the four-match series having won at Leeds in the third Test and drawing level in the series. England batted first and thanks to 195 from Michael Vaughan put up 515 on board.
India decided to put up a similar total and was led by Rahul Dravid, who scored 217 off 468 balls in 629 minutes with 28 fours. He was supported by half-centuries from Tendulkar and Ganguly. This enabled India to post 508 runs in the first innings and spend enough time in the Test to draw it and with it, draw the series as well.
Watch Dravid’s wonderful 217 at the Oval in 2002 here:
RAHUL DRAVID 146*, 2011
Now coming to his one of the best innings in perhaps the final years of his career, Rahul Dravid emerged as the sole survivor of the 0-4 drubbing that India got at the hands of England on the disastrous 2011 tour.
In the 4th and final Test at the Oval of the series, England batted first and put up a mammoth 591/6d thanks to Ian Bell’s 235 and Kevin Pietersen’s 175. India needed some spirited batting in their first innings and that spirit came from Rahul Dravid.
Dravid had to open the batting with Sehwag, as Gautam Gambhir missed the Test due to a concussion. But England bowlers Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann uprooted the Indian batsmen out like the weed.
Rahul Dravid stood out as the sole best batsman from his side as rest of the stalwarts was blown away by English bowlers. Dravid carried his bat through the innings with 146* to his name, made in 266 balls in 378 minutes with 20 fours. The next best score was Amit Mishra’s 43.
India folded for 300 and had to follow on and was bowled out for 283 in their second innings, losing the Test by an innings and 8 runs and were whitewashed in the series 0-4.
However, Rahul Dravid was the star from the Indian side in the 2011 series.
Here is the video of that gutsy inning from Rahul Dravid:
