Why the BCCI should seek Rahul Dravid's services

With Sachin’s retirement, Team India will be heading to South Africa with a batting line up completely short of experience. With Gambhir and Sehwag out of reckoning, it’s safe to say that among the top six, Kohli is the most experienced with 20 Tests under his belt. So how well equipped are our batsmen heading in to these overseas tours over the next 15 months?

Question marks already exist over the younger generation’s inability in seamer friendly conditions. And after what happened in 2011 against England and Australia, we cannot afford another drubbing. This is where the BCCI needs to step in and make sure the young batsmen are well equipped to face the challenges abroad.

What they can do is appoint India’s most successful overseas batsman of all time as the batting consultant during these tours. Over the years he has enthralled us with some magnificent performances abroad. Dravid is the first name to spring on to our minds when we talk about technique in tough batting conditions.

This is how he has fared in the four countries which India are about to tour in the coming months.

New Zealand

Dravid has toured New Zealand thrice and has scored 766 runs at a stunning average of 63.83, with only Azharrudin and Gambhir averaging more than him. In his first tour, he made scores of 190 and 103 not out in the same Test. To this date, Dravid remains the last Indian batsman to have achieved this feat of scoring hundreds in both innings of a Test match. His second tour was a poor one as India lost both the Tests with Dravid making only a single half century.

Rahul Dravid against New Zealand

His last tour in 2009 was successful for him as well as for his team as India managed to win a Test series in New Zealand after 41 long years. He scored four fluent fifties including a patient 62 of 220 balls which was instrumental in India saving a Test after being asked to follow on.

South Africa

Not many of us know that Dravid averages only 29.71 in South Africa despite being known as someone who is technically well balanced to score big anywhere around the world. He has a combined average of 51 in these four countries, but his average in South Africa falls well short of it. Credit should be given to their bowlers as Pollock, Ntini, Steyn have all bowled well to him.

His first tour in 1997 was his most successful one where he managed to score 148 in the third Test at Johannesburg which incidentally was his first Test hundred. His last tour in 2010 was the poorest of the lot with him averaging only 20.

Dravid’s technique against short pitched bowling has always been appreciated.

But still, his experience in those conditions will come in handy as his technique against pace and bounce is well documented. He would be able to guide the youngsters on these pitches as only Pujara has managed to play Test cricket in South Africa among the specialist batsmen.