DAWN OF THE DRAVID ERA
THE YEAR WAS 1996, the Indian team was in crisis with mercurial opener Navjot Singh Sidhu revolting against skipper Mohammad Azharuddin and walking out of India’s England tour. The team management sent out Sourav Ganguly, still green behind the ears, to bat in a most intimidating setting, Lord’s, the home of Test cricket where cricketing fortunes are made and lost. By the third day, his debut century announced a future star to India.
India had in that series also dropped the seasoned Sanjay Manjrekar and handed out another debut, to Rahul Dravid, Ganguly’s teammate from the Under-19 and India A days. A day after Ganguly’s century, Dravid’s turn at the crease ended at 95, five short of a debut hundred even as the British commentators hailed the New India.
Almost 25 years on, Indian cricket has
