Watch: Rahul Dravid ensured his first and the last appearance for India in T20Is was memorable, as he smashed three successive sixes to end with 31 off 21 balls in the one-off game against England in 2011.
Dravid, who had already announced he would retire from white-ball cricket after the culmination of the limited-overs series against England, was at his aggressive best in the T20I game as he scored a quick 31 while batting at No.3 at Old Trafford in Manchester. Opting to bat first, the Indians did not get off to the greatest start as Parthiv Patel was dismissed for a 12-ball 10, which brought two debutants on the crease.
The former India captain combined with youngster Ajinkya Rahane to steady the ship, taking the score to 104-1 in 11.3 overs before Dravid was dismissed by Ravi Bopara. His short cameo was laced with three consecutive sixes, with Samit Patel being the victim. ‘The Wall’ was batting on 13 off 16 before he took on the attack in the last three deliveries of Patel’s third over.
The first was swatted over long-on, the second was cleared over long-on again, but with a straighter bat and Dravid finished the over with a fine sweep over the square-leg boundary. Dravid’s strikes helped India fetch 22 runs off the over, and though he was sent back soon after, he ensured that his T20I appearance had much to write about. The then-38-year old finished with a career strike rate of 147.61.
This is not the first time, though that Dravid surprised fans with his big-hitting skills. Earlier, he had managed to troll commentator Arun Lal by hitting a huge six after the latter was certain the batsman would not be looking to go over the top in a Test match against Pakistan in 2005.
Dravid’s efforts were topped by Rahane’s brisk 39-ball 61 that had eight fours. However, India were unable to get a win on the board in the only T20I game of the series, as their total of 165 was easily chased down by England with three balls to spare.
