Nottingham, July 31 (IANS) Rahul Dravid says he is elated to equal his childhood hero Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 34 Test centuries.
Dravid scored a gritty 117 at Trent Bridge under tough conditions, but the Indian batsmen failed to capitalise on his good work and folded up for 288 in the first innings Saturday.
It was Dravid’s second century, having made an unbeaten 103 at Lord’s in the first Test.
‘As a kid, I have grown up in a generation where (Sunil) Gavaskar and (Gundappa) Vishwanath were heroes for us. In days of my backyard cricket, I was either a Gavaskar or a Viswanath. So to be able to equal something that Gavaskar has done is fantastic,’ said Dravid.
‘I don’t compare myself with Gavaskar. He is a legend of the game.’
Dravid rued the team’s missed opportunity when they had the upper hand in the second Test but could not press home the advantage.
‘We had them 124 for eight yesterday and today we were 267 for four but we collapsed. In a tight low-scoring game like this and when the wicket is tough, you have to take advantage of such situations. But the boys are workng hard. It is realy tough out there. It’s 50-50 now,’ said Dravid.
‘We would like to chase as few runs as possible. We have to bowl in right areas and restrict them to a low total,’ he said.
Dravid, who stood up valiantly taking some blows on his body, said the knock on his right wrist was tough to bear.
‘It spasmed for 5-6 overs. It was a tricky period and for sometime I did not have much feeling in my right hand.
‘Once we got through to lunch, it eased out. It is still paining but not much. Towards the end, I was cramping up as it was a hot day and I was on field for long time,’ he said.
Dravid had to open the innings in absence of injured Gautam Gambhir. He had to open in the sceond innings at Lord’s also.
It is something that Dravid is not at ease with.
‘At number three, there is some breathing space even if it is a little bit. As a middle order batsman, all my routines are set. The 10-minute changeover period when I have to change and comeback, I find myself rushed. I remember at Lord’s, I had to keep wickets, run up and down and felt really rushed,’ Dravid said.
‘I was determined to ensure I did not get that feeling here. I went in taking more time,’ he said.
