Indian head coach Rahul Dravid recalled his first Test century, which came in in South Africa said that his knock gave him confidence for the rest of his career.
Team India will face South Africa in the second Test of the ongoing three-match series in Johannesburg, in a venue where head coach Rahul Dravid scored his maiden Test century back in 1997.
Coming to bat at No.3 in the first innings against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1997, Rahul Dravid bailed his team out of trouble after they were reduced to 45/2. The right-hander smashed a sensational 362-ball 148 runs knock and helped visitors post a first-innings total of 410 on the board.
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Javagal Srinath then took a five-wicket haul that helped India wrap the hosts for 321 runs. Rahul Dravid continued his form and followed his century with 81 runs in the second innings as visitors set Proteas a target of 356 runs to chase.
Indian bowlers then bowled brilliantly and reduced South Arica to 228/8 but rain played the spoilsport and denied visitors the win as they lost the series 0-2.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the second Test between South Africa and India, Rahul Dravid recalled scoring his first Test century when his side toured the Rainbow Country in 1997.
"I remember it raining and not us being able to win the game. That I remember well. It was nice personally in some ways to score the first Test hundred as an international player. It makes you feel you belong and achieved at that level,” Rahul Dravid said.
Dravid admitted that the century in Johannesburg gave him a lot of confidence for the rest of his career. He said that they were disappointed as persistent rains on Day 4 and Day 5 rued their chances of winning the match.
He added that even though they didn’t have the depth that the current Team India has, they still came close to winning a Test match that time.
"On a personal level, that was really nice. In a lot of ways, It sort of set me up and gave me confidence for the rest of my career. But yes, the disappointment was it was raining on Day 4 and Day 5 and we didn’t have enough overs to win a Test match which we probably deserved. People like Srinath were there but we didn’t have the depth that we have right now. Still, we came close to really winning a Test match," he said.
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Rahul Dravid, who was captain when Team India won their first Test in South Africa in 2006-07, said that it’s a lovely memory for him but now being the coach his job is to support and help them and to win a Test match in Johannesburg would mean a lot to the group.
"As far as what it means personally, it's very different as a player and as a captain, having obviously won here when I led the team in 2006-07. That was a really lovely memory as well.
“You know, as a coach, our role is to support and help the team and it’s really their success. I know it would mean a lot to the group of guys to be able to win a Test match here," he said.
(India Today inputs)
