Rahul Dravid: 5 highest scoring innings of his Test career

Rahul Dravid is one of the greatest cricketers of all-time. A career filled with accolades, he holds the record for highest number of deliveries faced by anyone in Test cricket with 31,258. Dravid was known for his defensive technique and was a nightmare even for some of the world's best bowlers.

He played in 164 Test matches and scored 13288 runs with a breath-taking average of 52.31, accompanied by 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries. He known as 'The Wall' for his ability to stay in the crease for longer duration.

He is the only Indian cricketer to have scored four consecutive centuries in Test cricket. We take a look at the five highest scoring innings of his Test career.

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#5 200* vs Zimbabwe, Delhi, 2000

Dravid scored his maiden double century against Zimbabwe

India were squared-off against Zimbabwe in a two-Test home series. In the first test in Delhi, Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat first. The visitors posted a big-total of 422, behind Andy Flower's 183 off 351. Javagal Srinath was the pick of the bowlers for India with 4/81 in 35 overs.

When India came out to bat in their first innings, India lost an early wicket in S Ramesh for just 13 runs. Dravid, who walked in at No.3, went on to build crucial partnerships for 2nd and 3rd wicket. The Das-Dravid duo stitched together a partnership of 107, before the former was dismissed. Dravid then went on to add 213 for the third wicket with Sachin Tendulkar. He finished the innings with 200* off 350 balls, with 27 fours. Sachin scored 122 off 233 and the hosts declared at 458-4. It was Dravid's first double-century in Test cricket.

In their second innings, Zimbabwe were all-out for a mere 225 runs. Srinath once again ripped through the batting lineup and picked up five wickets for just 60 runs. Chasing a target of 190, Dravid once again delivered scoring 70* off 91. India won the game and took 1-0 lead in the two-Test series

#4 217 vs England, Kennington Oval, 2002

Dravid saved the series with his double-century

England hosted India for a four-Test series in 2002. In the Third test, the Sachin-Dravid-Ganguly trio exploded with centuries to win the test match. The focus shifted to the final test in London with the series tied at 1-1. England won the toss and chose to bat first. Michael Vaughan entertained the home crowd and scored 195 off 279 deliveries to get England to a huge total of 515.

In return, it was Dravid who stitched some key partnerships with Sachin, Ganguly and Laxman to get India to 508, conceding just six runs lead to the home team. Dravid scored 217 runs off 468 deliveries with 28 boundaries. No one other from Dravid scored a century in the innings for India, and it was his double-century that saved the series.

In the second innings, England scored 114-0 and the match was drawn. Dravid was awarded the Man of the Match for his series-saving innings. He was also adjudged the Man of the Series along with Vaughan for scoring 602 runs in six innings at a breath-taking average of 100.33

#3 222 vs New Zealand, Ahmedabad, 2003

Dravid's 222 helped India post a huge total

The Kiwis visited India for a two-Test series in 2003. India, after winning the toss in the first Test, decided to bat first at the Motera Stadium. Dravid destroyed the New Zealand bowling lineup and scored 222 off 387 which included 28 fours and a six. He added 182 for the 5th wicket with Sourav Ganguly who added 100* of his own. India declared at 500-5.

In reply, New Zealand were all-out for 340 giving a first innings lead of 160 runs to the hosts. In their second innings, India scored 209-6 and declared, setting a target of 370 for the visitors. Rahul Dravid once again shone with 73 off 86.

In the last innings of the Test, New Zealand scored 272 for the loss of six wickets and the match was drawn. Rahul Dravid was the Man of the Match for his brilliant knocks in both the innings that gave India a hope of winning the Test.

#2 233 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2003

Dravid once again came for the rescue with a scintillating knock

India were in Australia for a four-Test series. The first Test, in which Justin Langer scored a terrific century, ended in a draw. In the second Test, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first. The hosts posted a huge total of 556, on the back of Ponting's magnificent 242 off 352 deliveries. Kumble was the pick of the bowlers for India with 5/154.

In reply, India lost wickets cheaply and were left reeling at 88-4. Dravid then went on to stitch a terrific partnership with No.6 VVS Laxman to save the day for India. The Dravid-Laxman duo added 297 runs for the fifth wicket. Dravid ended up scoring 233 off 446 balls with 23 fours and one six. Laxman scored 148 off 282 deliveries with 18 fours. India posted a total of 523 and the home side had a lead of 33 runs.

In the second innings, Australia were dismissed for just 196 runs with Agarkar going for 6/41. Chasing down a target of 230, it was Dravid who once again showed up and scored 72* off 170 to give India a memorable foreign win.

The series ended in a draw, 1-1, and Rahul Dravid was awarded the Man of the Series for scoring 619 runs in eight innings at an average of 123.80.

#1 270 vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 2004

Pakistan Bowlers had no answer for Dravid

India visited Pakistan for a three-Test series against their arch-rivals. The home team were up 1-0 in the series after two Tests and the focus shifted to Rawalpindi for the third and final Test. India won the toss and put Pakistan to bat. The home team were dismissed for just 224. Balaji ripped through the batting lineup with 4/63.

In reply, India lost veteran opener Virender Sehwag for a golden-duck. Dravid walked in at No.3 and played a match-winning knock building some key partnerships. The duo of Dravid and Parthiv Patel added 129 for the second wicket before the latter got dismissed by Fazl E-Akbar for 69 off 141. Dravid went on to add 131 runs for the 4th wicket with Laxman and 131 runs for the 5th wicket with Ganguly. He scored 270 off 495 accompanied by 34 fours and a six. The Pakistan bowlers had no answer to Dravid and India finished with 600.

In the third innings, Pakistan were all-out for just 245 with Kumble doing some serious damage, picking up four wickets for just 47 runs. India won by an innings and 131 runs, and Dravid was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match for his terrific knock that took the game away from the hosts. India clinched the series, 2-1.