An ‘astonishing’ Comparison of Sachin & Dravid!
If Sachin and Rahul need to be compared to anybody else, they can only be compared to themselves or else to Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara. Reason? – only these four players have more than 9000 runs in both ODI and Test Cricket. However the question here is Indian Cricket!!!
Any cricket player’s performance lies in his CONTRIBUTION to his country (NOT just in his individual performance) more than anything as Cricket teams represent their nation/country.
There is a load of difference between Test Cricket and One day cricket. One day cricket tests you how quickly you can score runs, and how well you can defend it. Though test cricket is the real TEST for a single player and a whole team, we have a game called ODI and we cannot “down” its importance.
Batting Comparison:
Here are Sachin’s figures in ODIs and Test Matches:
| class | mat | inns | no | runs | hs | ave | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | ct | st | bf | sr |
| Tests | 135 | 217 | 22 | 10668 | 248* | 54.7 | 35 | 43 | NA | 41 | 85 | 0 | ||
| ODIs | 374 | 365 | 35 | 14537 | 186* | 44.05 | 40 | 74 | 1555 | 154 | 113 | 0 | 17004 | 85.49 |
Here are Rahul’s figures in ODIs and Test Matches:
| class | mat | inns | no | runs | hs | ave | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | ct | st | bf | sr |
| Tests | 107 | 182 | 22 | 9174 | 270 | 57.33 | 23 | 46 | 1138 | 13 | 147 | 0 | na | na |
| ODIs | 302 | 281 | 35 | 9762 | 153 | 39.68 | 12 | 73 | 855 | 30 | 180 | 14 | 13859 | 70.43 |
Analysis on ODIs:
Sachin’s figures LOOK very dominating. Let’s analyze them better. But before analyzing them let us all know that after Rahul Dravid came to ODI circuit, Sachin made only 1040 more runs than Rahul. There was a time when India won 39 ODI, mostly thanks to Sachin! However, can we keep Kapil Dev or Sunil Gavaskar in team just because they ‘were’ consistent!
Rahul has been moved onto various batting positions through out his career for team’s betterment (?) and even he had to keep behind the stumps to retain place in the team.
(Even in test matches also – he scored 180 runs when he was moved down to 6th place [when Laxman made 281 runs]).
Conversely, Sachin has been moved several times according into his convenience only to help him making runs (even though IND fails to win). Sachin wants opener’s slot but never faces the very first ball of the innings (even debutant batsman has to face the first ball by keeping 374-one-dayer at the non-striking end).
Apart from the above figures, India lost 4 ODIs when Dravid hits 100 out of his 12 centuries. India lost only ONCE when Sehwag hits century (out of his Eight). India lost only 4 times when Ganguly hits century (out of 22). But the same is not the case with the Master Blaster. Interestingly, on overseas pitches (NOT ASIA) there are only 7 hundreds by Sachin, with which India won – they are against Namibia(1), zim(2), kenya(2), West Indies(1) and Sri Lanka(1).
One might ask for logic behind this. For any team to put good enough scores on the board, it must have good partnerships and Sachin is very poor in building partnerships. He is a BAD partner (one must know the roles of a non-striker) and just makes his individual scores without much bothering to build the partnerships. One a different note, Sachin got his partner run out 35 times!
Rahul is the best in building partnerships and involved in India’s major partnerships (He partnered Sachin’s highest ODI score(186*), Ganguly’s 183 and of course Laxman’s highest 281 in tests and many more)
Analysis on TESTs:
Now coming to TEST matches, “Test” Cricket is the real “test” for a single player. It tests a players’ attitude towards ever changing climate, worsening pitch, tiring body, enticing bowling with fielding set to get you OUT rather than stop your runs. Of course apart from batting you need to field (or bowl) as well.
Here also Sachin’s figures LOOK BIG but Rahul is technically brilliant. Before analyzing them, let us all one fact that after Rahul Dravid came into Test Cricket, Sachin scored only 8000 odd runs, 1164 lesser than Rahul.
Head to Head in Away Test matches (through out their career)
| Player | M | Runs | Highest | Avg | 100s | 50s |
| Dravid | 59 | 5390 | 270 | 63.41 | 15 | 25 |
| Sachin | 75 | 5751 | 248* | 54.25 | 19 | 24 |
Interestingly, of the only few test matches India won outside India, there is no single “man of the match” award for Sachin. And at home wins there are only two (both came on chepak stadium, Chennai).
Dravid has 5 “man of the match” innings (awarding with MOM, along with 2 Man of the Series) when IND won a test match (both home and away) and FOUR of them were away and one was at home. There’re so many Century innings that helped IND win a test match (without MOM – lost only one test out of his 23 100’s)
On Field:
Sachin has been known to take crucial wickets, and this is shown as his ‘greatness’. However, most people easily forget that Rahul Dravid has kept wickets. Wicket keeping is the most thankless job in cricket, especially when you have someone like Kumble, and Harbhajan bowling!
> Something more:
- Rahul is the ONLY player, who has been asked to be on the Panel of Judges for ICC Awards!
- Rahul is the only batsman to make 100 on all the test playing soils
- Highest ever average in test matches by an Indian (overall and away)
- Away, Rahul’s test average is 63.4 whereas Sachin’s is 58.3 only.
- The 4th innings average of Sachin, is 33(overall) and 26(away) whereas Rahul’s 56 (overall) and 63 (away). The 4th innings is the most difficult part of any match to bat on and it decides the result of the match.
- IND lost only ONE test match when Dravid hits 100 whereas its’ 8 Test matches IND lost with Sachin’s 100.
Based on all the above, you only need basic maths to prove who is the best. But again, here is something more:
1. It was in Nov’ 2003 when IND won (against NZ – in HYD) that Sachin’s century helped India win. Of course, not to forget Man of the match Sehwag’s hundred (130 in 134 balls) and Rahul’s 50 off 22 balls. Someone said that Rahul needs time to settle down.
2. It has been 6 years since Sachin played ranji-trophy (all other players play when they go major break). Here, the point is not only to prove his fitness but, (more importantly) he has to CONTRIBUTE to India by playing for Ranji. It will help upcoming players improve their standards. Unlike other countries, I don’t know why BCCI does not make a compulsion for players to play ranji 1:1 ratio. Even if it does, it will probably exempt Sachin from this!!!
As Captains:
If we need to write about captaincy, Dravid is NOT a good captain and was given captaincy as there was(is) no alternative. Everybody knows the pressure on IND Cricket captain and that too taking it from Ganguly, who is the best ever IND captain, is never an easy job. But don’t forget that Ganguly as a captain had Rahul as a player. So, why would somebody blame him for his captaincy rather it was a burden for him only to spoil his batting. Would you assign captaincy to Jacques Kallis and blame him in case he does not perform as captain? However, this issue is not about captaincy and also not to support poor play in the excuse of captaincy.
Again, Dravid performed better as captain than Sachin. Under dravid’s captaincy, IND lost 24 out of 54 ODIs and 6 out 20 Test matches. Under Sachin, lost 43 ODIs out of 73 and 9 out of 25 Test matches.
Fitness: Oh….!! What should I talk about Sachin’s fitness??? The only way his FITNESS helps him is – to sustain in the team for decades to earn Crores for him. But he is UNFIT enough not to play in Ranji!. And yet he will be fit to play in next two ODIs.
Dravid, for example in the last Test Series against South Africa was not standing at Slips, and yet was playing the match. Imagine why? Not just that, he came back and within two days represented Karnataka in Ranji, with bandage still on his fingers.
How ICC rates Sachin & Dravid:
ICC has excellent rating system (though need not be 100% foolproof). The ICC rankings are till now the best and far better compared to Wisden ranking!
With this ICC rating, Sachin has never ever broke into TOP 10 even once – why??
For a batsman, the factors are:
- Runs scored
- ratings of the opposing bowling attack; the higher the combined ratings of the attack, the more value is given to the batsman’s innings (in proportion)
- the level of run-scoring in the match, and the team’s innings total; an innings of 100 runs in a match where all teams scored 500 is worth less than 100 runs in a match where all teams were bowled out for 200. And if a team scores 500 in the first innings and 200 in the second innings, a century in the second innings will get more credit than in the first innings (because the general level of run scoring was higher in the first innings)
- out or not out (a not out innings receives a bonus)
- the result. Batsmen who score highly in victories receive a bonus. That bonus will be higher for highly rated opposition teams (i.e. win bonus against the current Australia team is higher than the bonus against Zimbabwe.)
And with all these, Sachin never ever broke into Top Ten. People might not like ICC rankings because they were introduced in 2004 and Sachin was not completely fit enough after that. This goes onto show how important it is to be FIT to play ICC. Why blame the ranking if Sachin isn’t fit?
So we all know how ICC treats the GOD of Indian Cricket!!!
And then Mr. Rahul Dravid was included in ICC ODI tourney in World XI vs Australia. How many remember that Virender Sehwag was kept out from the same World XI vs Australia ODI tourney, but included in Tests!!! This should be enough to say, how ICC treats Dravid.
But think in this way:
- Great Kapil won Prudential World Cup for IND, apart from being the “finest” all rounders of the world.
- Gavasker helped India defend Test matches (especially overseas).
- Dravid helped IND win Test matches overseas and also at home.
Then What about Mr. Master Blaster …? What is his significant break through to Indian Cricket – My answer – NONE!!!
The above article has been contributed by one of the READERS as a comment on another post Sachin Tendulkar Vs Rahul Dravid… I edited it and added few more points to it. Thanks Very much JAT!
» An ‘astonishing’ Comparison of Sachin & Dravid! – EK CUP CHAI…
» An ‘astonishing’ Comparison of Sachin & Dravid! – EK CUP CHAI posted at IndianPad.com…
IndianPad
17 Jan 07 at 3:07 am
Statistic manipulation at its best !!
Though it is difficult to argue anymore than sachin is a better test batsman but at the one-day level he’s miles ahead of dravid. Overall(test+odi), sachin has helped india win far more matches than dravid.
The author ignores the World Cups where sachin almost single-handedly led india to a semi-final(’96) and a final(’03).Though dravid was the highest run-getter in the ‘99 wc, india performed miserably and barely reached the super 6. Thus, it can be argued that eiither sachin has performed where it mattered the most unlike dravid, or else the individual performance can’t be beliittled incase of team-loss.Probably , the second argument is true.
Regards ICC ranking, it is true that sachin is nowhere near dravid (or for that matter ponting/lara) this is because sachin has played way below par in the lst 3 yrs.His golden period was 1996-2003 compared to dravid’s 2001-06.Hence,to compare post-2004 would be a one-sided analysis.
Also, Tendulkar hadn’t done anything significant before ‘96, so if you just compare their records post-96 it’ll tell you a completely different story.You have given that dravid scored more test runs than sachin in this period but what about no. of matches played / average ?
Comaring captaincy is irrelevant as they had different teams.Similarly,comparing partnerships you have only given dravid’s record what about sachin’s ?
Finally,comparing averages would be relevant only when these players retire.A few years back even sachin was averaging almost 60 in tests.
Bottomline: Dravid may be a better batsman on current form but overall sachin is definitely ahead of him.
Sumit
17 Jan 07 at 8:21 am
SACHIN IS THE GREATEST CRICKETER EVER, DRAVID IS NOT BAD BUT NOTHING COMPARED TO SACHIN. SO SHUT UP
amit
17 Jan 07 at 8:38 am
Highly Biased Article
The author just wants to prove himself right….
sachin’s contributions have not been mentioned…
every player has his up and downs my friend….. There is no denying both are gr8 players
But just dont try to pull one individual down….
If u really have to prove something make an honest opinion
and dont highlight ones contribution and hide others….
My friend cricket was Never a big sport until sachin came…..
both r gr8 batsmen but sachin ofcourse have been serving for so long and is also d better player..
Saurabh
17 Jan 07 at 8:44 am
Unfortunately sachin and lara have been the part of those teams which lost most matches. Can you tell me what was the contribution of Dravid when India LOST matches? Did he tried to win back. There is a major difference between Dravid and Sachin and i.e. Sachin has got an aggression to scare the bowlers and Sachin played against the best bowlers more than Dravid and He played consistently well. Dravid is definitely the great wall but can you recollect how many times Dravid contributed when India had a poor start? Sachin comes into a different era of players like Bradman and Lara, Dravid is a different player!!!
Ravi
17 Jan 07 at 9:59 am
Oh God ! !!!! Why don’t people try to accept the FACT’S .Is it b’coz they are FACT’S or else don’t they have that Attitude to face the FACT’S .
Well , either ways FACT’S will remain FACT’S .
The comparision is done ( time frame) where both the players contributed for India. Afer playing for 16 yrs can’t Sachin put his experience in his performance now. Then
Why experience is valued so much?
In what way is his experience useful for INDIA? (now at this crucial moment)
I am not supporting Dravid too .
Why is he not using his experience ?
Why can’t he do some thing innovative in his capitancy?
If one person has set an Image for himself (after a lot of effort ) then the greatest success lies in reaching that Image every time .
Smile
18 Jan 07 at 12:02 am
Sachin Ramesh Tendulakr, started his carrier at the very young age of 16 and played 17 years of international cricket and made more than 25,000 runs and 75 International centuries so far. If we go by statistics, as I pointed out earlier, no doubt he is next DON. But, here the point of discussion is to bring out other aspects which can affect these figures making a batsmen fame and shame at times. His success rate in ODI’s & Tests and in Asian soil and out side Asian soil are same. If you look at his contribution in winning matches, IN ODI’s he averages 56, much above his career average of 44 , in 185 wins out of 374 matches he played. He averages 32, much below his career average , in 168 losses. Matter is no different in test matches. Out of 132 matches he played, ODI’s he averages 64, much above his career average of 55, in 51 wins. He averages 35, much below his career average , in 37 losses.
This clearly depicts the responsibility he has on shoulders to win the matches for his country and nothing less than one billion people expectations to fulfill. During tendulkar’s reign a span of 17 years, apart from saourav’s contribution at times and Dravids lion share some times dominating sachin , he didn’t had a reliable batter to win matches for India, which mounting the burden on him to highest level to perform . He did’t had a team of promising players where any one can perform on a given day ,kumble has exception in test matches as match winner and well complimented sachins effort with his leggies.. No doubt he has not performed well in big matches when it was mattered the most, except his breath taking back-to back 100’s against aussies in sharjah in 1998. But, look at the pressure he posses on him to perform . The other aspect to be taken in to consideration is injuries he undergone, Back, foot and Tennis elbow injuries etc., Each injuries have curtailed his patent strokes . Can u forget the lofted straight drives, back foot cover drives and lofted mid wicket shots……They appears to be feast to the eyes of spectators and photographers. These injuries have hampered his game and resulting in poor performance in last 3 years.
After reading this, still if some one feels or say dravid is best than sachin then none can help them in this regard. No doubt dravid is a world class performer and one of the finest batsmen India ever have. His contribution to Indian test victories especially overseas in the recent past is awesome…..but comparing him with sachin probably great mistakes one can commit.
Boina Sudhakar
18 Jan 07 at 12:50 am
Batting Venue Mat Inns NO 50s 100s HS Runs Avg
Home 60 99 10 19 16 217 4917 55.25
Away 75 118 12 24 19 *248 5751 54.25
Overall 135 217 22 43 35 *248 10668 54.71
Bowling
Venue O M R W 5w Best Avg S/R E/R
Home 286.2 43 912 15 0 3/10 60.80 114.53 3.19
Away 281.5 35 1014 23 0 2/7 44.09 73.52 3.60
Overall 568.1 78 1926 38 0 3/10 50.68 89.71 3.39
maha
18 Jan 07 at 1:14 am
Stupid, Insane comparision without considering the support from the other end or the total contribution of the team or the total domination of bowlers.
No more argument, But Dravid definately and I mean DEFINATELY IS NOT as great as this comparision has been made out to be.
Also Dravid inherited a settled team while Tendulkar was almost always given a mediocre team as captain.
Pari
18 Jan 07 at 1:55 pm
Then What about Mr. Master Blaster …? What is his significant break through to Indian Cricket – My answer – NONE!!!
hmm who won you the home test series aginst australia in 98, who scored that 190 something against england in 2002,
who scored 92 in trent bridge in 2007 .. i guess that wasn’t dravid was it? who helped india won the world cup tie against pakistan in 2003
Mandeep singh bhangu
12 Oct 07 at 5:31 am
No matter what Tendulkar gave to the team … he lost himself in it … Dravid could evenly deliver and also command for the same.
Pushpinder Singh Bagga
7 Jan 08 at 4:47 am
Wrong Comparison…… Dravid is not a match for sachin
shashi
4 Apr 08 at 8:42 am
no matter btwn the comparison.. its the matter how to take the positives…
sathish
13 Sep 08 at 9:37 am
Hi Mr. Peta,
I completely agree with you. Dravid has always been the bridesmaid. We have never heard him making an inflamatory comment against a single soul, even though he got unfortunately embroilled in the ball tampering controversy. Sachin had been touted a legend since quite a few years. but that didnt stop him from speaking his heart out. It is a good habit to speak ones heart out. but people must realise that with great power comes great responsibility. He must realise that any comment made in the media, has the power to enrage the mob, who have made a god out of him. In spite of this, he goes to the media to speak of his disappointment when Dravid declared his innings short of a 200; and even against Greg Chappell. There are ways to lodge a complaint or make a greviance known, and it is definately not through the media.
Mr. Peta,
Could you update these statistics mentioned in this article? I need the latest statistics to confront a few ppl who think that Dravid is worthless in comparison to Sachin.
Many Thanks
Denzil
20 Mar 09 at 10:12 am
people ,,, i know that you all love sachin…but i would like to end it with a simple statement that i quote from harsha bhogle– sachin was born great, dravid acquired it
dhruv
20 May 09 at 5:05 am
we salute u THE GREAT WALL OF INDIA………
ajuks
19 Nov 09 at 12:41 am
I do support Dravid in comparison. Definitely, both the batsmens are done their best in improvising indian batting. But, Rahul adjusts to the situation very well and plays as per the situation demands. Dravids batting style is also very impressive. Especially, the square cut and the leg glances were outstanding. He can be referred as Guide by the youngsters learning cricket.
ALL THE BEST To RAHUL and lets hope he grabs his place in ODIs too sooner and backs his flow
Kalyan
19 Nov 09 at 5:55 am
Sachin may be the best batsman… but Dravid is always the best team player and match winner, he always plays whenever team is in trouble…
If i lead a team, i wil surely prefer a team player, than a best batsman…
Thilak
5 Dec 09 at 8:50 pm
OH Dravid he is great as batsman, Feilder and Most important as a HUMAN being I hope he gets his share of Due Respect
though i don’t believe in Compariing each other i Prefer Dravid THE WALL
Eustas Remedious
16 Jan 10 at 10:18 pm
I dont deny that Sachin is one among the best player – but when it comes to scoring for the Team,I differ with the millions of Sachin Fans.I would request our Sachin fans to count the number of occasions Sachin was dismissed almost getting a century, you would fall short of fingers I believe!!
This clearly shows that being a maestro ,he gets nervous when it comes to his personal cricketing record and looses his grip over the game, who suffers – The Indian TEAM!! We often dont see Dravid getting dismissed at such a juncture
Sachin as a Player piled up personal record, which had its natural influence on the TEAM, nothing more than that.TEAM needs a TEAM PLAYER!! b’coz BCCI Indian Team represents the Country India, not the batsmen of India!!
gk
24 May 10 at 5:11 am