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Dravid one of India's five greatest batsmen: Vishy

December 21, 2003 22:26 IST

Former India batsman Gundappa Vishwanath rates Adelaide Test hero Rahul Dravid as one of India's five all-time great batsmen.

"He [Dravid] is definitely one of the five greatest Indian batsmen ever," Viswanath, who is in Kolkata to officiate as Match Referee in the Kenstar Asian 'A' teams cricket tournament, told reporters.

The touch artist, however, refused to name the other four.

Lavishing praise on Dravid, Vishwanath said he had played a number of excellent knocks in the past. "But this time people are sitting up and taking notice as he played such a spectacular match-winner."

Vishwanath also lauded the partnership between Dravid and VVS Laxman which fashioned the magnificent Indian victory.

"This is the second time they have scripted such a large partnership. This shows their excellent understanding. Otherwise, they would not have been able to stitch together such a long partnership twice in Test cricket," he said.

Dravid and Laxman had earlier been associated in a huge partnership in the Eden Gardens Test in 2001 against the same side with India almost coming back from the dead to snatch a historic win.

Asked whether he foresees India bagging the series, he replied, "To make it possible, our boys have to hold fort at Sydney, where the conditions could be a bit tough for them."

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