India's incredible victory over the West Indies was because of well-planned strategy, skipper Rahul Dravid revealed.
Rahul Dravid became the second batsman to score 13, 000 Test runs. The 38-year-old Indian batting ace attained the landmark when he got to 23, with a boundary off Darren Sammy, on Day 3 in the third and final Test against the West Indies at the Wankhede stadium on Thursday.
Rahul Dravid on Saturday went past Australian Ricky Ponting to become the second highest run getter in Test cricket during the historic first Test between India and England at Lord's.
Graeme Smith was pleased with the good start to the series and said the aggression showed by the team was key to success
India's captain scored a fine 105 as India beat the West Indies by five wickets, off the second last ball, in the first ODI.
Rahul Dravid batted through with a heroic unbeaten 146 but India failed to avoid follow on and were left with a daunting task of batting out the entire fifth day to save the final Test against England at the Oval on Sunday.
India's captain said it is heartening to win an ODI series at home after a long time.
Half-centuries from Robin Uthappa and Rahul Dravid carried Royal Challengers Bangalore to a crushing seven-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League in Bangalore, on Saturday. Dravid had put Bangalore in control with his quickfire knock of 52 from 35 balls, while Uthappa finished it off in style with a cracking innings of 52 from a mere 22 deliveries, having hit three boundaries and five sixes.
Rahul Dravid slammed a fluent 119 to put India in command before the West Indies snapped up two quick wickets at the fag end of the day to recover marginally in the second Test at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Monday. Opting to bat, Dravid and VVS Laxman (73 batting) continued their love affair with their favourite Eden Gardens track as their 140-run partnership put India in a strong position of 346 for five at close on the opening day.
Virat Kohli didn't say it in as many words but sent out a loud message to all who would care to listen -- he is not done with T20 cricket
India's skipper became the sixth batsman in the world and the third from India to reach the landmark during the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Goa.
The Indian captain said the team could have probably spared themselves and the fans the heart-stopping moments towards the end.
Drained after hitting another one of his typically resolute hundreds, veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid said it was tough adjusting to the conditions in the ongoing first Test against the West Indies, in Kingston.
India captain Rahul Dravid blamed the inability of his frontline batsmen to negotiate the new ball for the team's 341-run loss to Pakistan in the third Test.
Kohli, who has a stellar record against Pakistan, registered his lowest individual score against the Men in Green on Saturday.
Former captain Rahul Dravid lavished praise on Virat Kohli, terming him the "best Indian batsman" on current form, and said that anchoring the stiff run-chase under pressure in the second Test against New Zealand would do his confidence a world of good.
Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid felt his young bowling attack's inexperience made the decisive difference in the low-scoring five-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match in Kolkata.
Images from Day 3 in the first Test between India and England, at Lord's.
India's captain said the wicket was slow and turning a bit, and the spinners bowled really well in the second ODI against South Africa.
South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis on Sunday surpassed Rahul Dravid as the third highest run-getter in Test cricket after a 115-run knock against India in his farewell match in Durban.
Four years ago he watched the World Cup final in a Bengaluru pub. On Thursday, Rachin Ravindra scored a 100 in the World Cup 2023 opening game.
Rahul Dravid praised Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan for their dogged display with the bat that helped India fight back on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia in Bangalore on Saturday. Harbhajan smashed 54, his third half-century in as many matches against Australia, adding 80 runs for the eighth wicket with Zaheer Khan, who was not out on 35, as India amassed 313 for 8 in the first innings in reply to Australia's 430.
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid hit contrasting centuries to give India the upperhand against New Zealand on Day 1 of the first Test, at the Sardar Patel stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad, on Thursday. At stumps on the opening day, India were 329 for three in 90 overs, with Sachin Tendulkar on 13 from 47 balls and VVS Laxman on seven.
Rahul Dravid, who notched his 33rd Test ton and became the second most prolific run getter in history, said he has nothing more left to be proved in his long and illustrious career except for the desire to contribute to the team's cause.
Lack of good partnerships undermined India's chances against the West Indies in the Champions Trophy Group 'A' match, said captain Rahul Dravid.
India's skipper said the overall performance of the team in the tri-series match against Australia is hard to stomach.
Rahul Dravid, on Monday, reached a commendable milestone, of becoming the highest run-scorer in the current year, surpassing England's Ian Bell.
Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid feels his team's bowling in the death overs is cause for concern.
'They bowled beautifully on a flat pitch and kept the score under control,' said India's captain after the seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second ODI.
"They (Sri Lanka) had a guy that finished 94 not out and that was the difference -- we did not have someone who batted all the way through," added Dravid.
The former English skipper was also critical of his side's batting while pointing out India's issues with converting great starts to big scores, saying that hitting 30s and 40s does not win a team Test matches.
Mayank Agarwal knows that he could be confined to the sidelines once K L Rahul and Rohit Sharma are back in the mix, but what has helped him stay focussed is words of wisdom from coach Rahul Dravid, who told him to control what's in his domain.
India were 229 for three on the fourth day of the second Test against the West Indies at Bridgetown on Friday, thereby extending their overall lead to 240.
Images from Day 4 in the first Test between India and England, at Lord's.
Ishan Kishan did not want to see his performance as a tool to prove a point to his detractors.
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