180 v Australia, Kolkata, 2001
One-half of a partnership that propelled India to one of their most memorable and famous Test victories. VVS Laxman's record-breaking 281 at No.3 overshadowed Dravid's contribution in a game, and series, turning 376-run stand that helped India bounce back and win - only the third time in 1535 Test matches that a team won a Test after following-on.
87 v South Africa, Port Elizabeth, 2001
There was a lot weighing on India players' minds in the wake of match referee Mike Denness' decisions but the team needed to put up a fight on the final day after South Africa had set them 395. Needing to save the Test and keep the series alive, India lost opener SS Das in the first over. In conditions where the bowlers had just enough assistance, Dravid and Deep Dasgupta batted with plenty of patience and determination to help draw the game. The pair added 171, batting more than 80 overs, to keep the South Africa bowlers, who bowled with discipline, at bay. By the time Dravid fell, India had more or less achieved their aim.
144* v West Indies, Georgetown, 2002
Dravid helped India draw the Georgetown Test against West Indies after they were in early trouble in response to the hosts' 501. India lost two wickets early and Dravid came in at No.5, with his team on 99 for 3. Dravid's unbeaten 144 also helped India arrest a trend of defeats in the first Test of overseas series, and they went on to win the next Test in Port of Spain, their first in the West Indies since 1976.
Dravid's century came in testing circumstances - he was struck hard by a Mervyn Dillon bouncer on his helmet and was given a couple of pain-killing tablets; his goal was to carry on batting until India avoided the follow-on, but he batted on long after that was achieved. He batted for more than seven hours, and was involved in century stands with VVS Laxman and offspinner Sarandeep Singh, who gave him company as India averted the follow-on.
148 v England, Headingley, 2002
An innings that was critical in helping India win their first Test in England in 16 years and level the series. India took a gamble by opting to bat in conditions that were favourable for fast bowling but Dravid dug in, battled the elements and made a decisive 148, setting the foundation for a 600-plus score in a solid stand with Sanjay Bangar. In difficult conditions, Dravid saw off the new ball in an innings that has been lauded as one of his best. Though Sachin Tendulkar scored more runs in the game, Dravid was named Man of the Match for his 148
233 and 72* v Australia, Adelaide, 2003
A pair of innings that did as much as any other to erase the "tigers at home, paper tigers abroad" tag that dogged Indian cricket. As the visitors' top-order folded in Adelaide, it seemed Steve Waugh's team would hand out another hiding, similar to the ones India suffered on the previous tour in 1999. Dravid and Laxman, though, brought back memories of the extraordinary 2001 Kolkata Test with a game-turning 303-run stand. Dravid wasn't through yet. The epic double-century in the first innings was backed up with a four-hour 72, capitalising on a rare Adam Gilchrist drop, which took India over the line for their first victory in Australia in 23 years. Australia were left to wonder how they lost a Test despite making 556 in the first innings.
217 Vs England, The Oval, 2002
Dravid's third century of the series was a double, and ensured India drew the fourth Test, and thus the series. His 217 was the third of four hundreds in consecutive innings, a record for an India batsman
270 v Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 2004
Dravid produced his career-best in Rawalpindi in 2004. It was India's first visit to Pakistan in 15 years, and predictably the hype surrounding the series was feverish. India had never won a Test series in Pakistan and, worse, hadn't succeeded in a Test series abroad for more than a decade. That blot was erased with Dravid's 12-hour opus in the deciding match at Rawalpindi. It wasn't his most fluent effort - the timing was off early on, and there were several chances - but, again, he highlighted his ability to persevere, carving out the longest Test innings by a player from India. He joked that six-day Tests would be needed for him to try break Lara's record of 400, though his final 100 runs came at a run-a-ball. That gave India the luxury of more than two days to bowl out Pakistan, which they duly did to clinch a ground-breaking victory.
81 and 68 v West Indies, Kingston, 2006
A couple of minefield masterclasses to secure another path-breaking success for India. West Indies might not have been at their world-dominating best, but their fast bowlers proved unplayable to everyone but Dravid on a brutal track in Sabina Park. Every nuance of Dravid's much-lauded defensive technique was on display as he weathered the pace and hostility of Jerome Taylor to make a first-innings 81, even as the rest of the specialist batsmen floundered. The next day, he proved a one-man bulwark as the batting crumbled again - hardly beaten on the day as he crafted another half-century. A series-winning hand that set the new gold standard for a captain's innings.
103* Vs England, Lord's, 2011
In his first Test at Lord's, in 1996, Dravid had made 95. In his last Test there, in 2011, he made his first century at the home of cricket. His unbeaten 103, which came from 220 balls with the help of 15 boundaries.
146* Vs England, The Oval, 2011
With the series lost and the rest of India's batsmen continuing to flounder against swing and seam, Dravid's resistance continued. He made his third century of the tour, an unbeaten 146 as opener, and was only the third Indian to carry his bat. He finished India's 0-4 defeat with 461 runs at an average of 76.
