Rahul Dravid T20 Debut & Retirement

For a player who has been playing cricket for the past 15 years and becoming one of the finest and technically correct, playing a T20 game was a big ask. But Rahul Dravid recalled into the ODI squad after 2 years made a successful T20 International debut in a country from where his career started. With that he became the 3rd oldest player to make a T20 debut.

When India announced the squad for the lone T20 encounter no one would have thought that Rahul Dravid will get a chance ahead of Sachin Tendulkar. But he answered to the call of duty and he answered it handsomely. He came at the cease with India one down for 40 odd runs and was surely the player to watch.

The first ball he faced was a sharp bouncer from another debutant from England Dembach but he got his first T20 run by gloving it to slips. What followed was a slow and steady progress with mostly singles.

He has always been a slow starter very watchful, trying to be used to the conditions, checking the pitch movement, the bowlers actions, their tactics and that has helped him become what he is today. After consuming 14 balls and scoring 10 runs he unleashed his powers.

He targeted spinner Samit Patel and clobbered him for 3 consecutive and towering sixes, a unique feet for Dravid and a unique treat for the viewers and cricket lovers. In the next over he was walking back after playing 21 balls and scoring 31 runs. This was his first and last inning in 20-20 international as he retires from the format.

The result of the match might have been bitter for Rahul Dravid as India lost but the wish of playing a T20 game before retirement was a sweet little memory for him.