Rahul Dravid :-The Mr. Dependable of Indian cricket, who is very much synonymous with consistency, is one  of the 'big three' of Indian cricket. Yes, we’re talking about the Indian team’s vice-captain Rahul Dravid. 

For the series against Australia, Rahul holds the key for Indian batting. With one of the most lethal new-ball attack at Australia’s disposal and the lack of experience in Indian openers makes Rahul Dravid a very vital man in Indian batting-order.

Of course, Rahul didn’t have much success against Australia last time, when they toured Down-Under. But it must be admitted that it was one of the sporadic failures in International cricket, where the game is so demanding. Australians would be terribly naïve to read too much into that failure. They must keep in mind that in Rahul Dravid, India has a dexterous batsman who can  play fast bowling with nonchalant ease.

Infact, Rahul Dravid is one of best batsman in contemporary cricket and his average, which is above 50, says it all.

During the last-series in 1998 against the Australians, Rahul batted with responsibility and came up with three fifties in that series. Rahul, who made his Test-debut with the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly at Lords, during Indians tour of England in1996, is epitome of concentration and discipline while batting.

In a series, where Australia is coming with one of nastiest attack of contemporary cricket, a lot will depend on India's batting and to be precise, on the triumvirant of Rahul-Sachin-Sourav.

The last series against Zimbabwe saw Rahul Dravid at his best. Rahul slammed a double century at Delhi Test and again scored a hundred at Nagpur. Rahul had an exceptional average in that series.

Dravid’s game is different from the lazy elegance of Ganguly or charismatic touch of Sachin. His game is based on closely-correct technique. Rahul has never been in hurry to get his runs and hence will never throw his wicket easily. This has been proved time and again. India must be hoping that Rahul might have reserved his best for this series.......let's cross our fingers! Rahul’s personal dual with Mc Grath and Shane Warne will be an interesting aspect of the series.

Rahul Dravid Test  Statistics

WATCH-OUT for...the dark horse

Narendra Hirwani : In Indian mythology, there is an old saying - 'whatever is destined, will happen.'  And for those, who believe in destiny, will acknowledge the veracity of the above saying. The inclusion of Narendra Hirwani, a forgotten leg-spinner, for the first Test against the awesome Aussies, once again underlines the importance of destiny in shaping anyone’s life.

Narendra Hirwani is a real dark horse from Indian point of view. Who would have thought of the return of Hirwani, after he was not even considered for the 25 probables for the Test-series? And in the circumstances, when an unknown leggie (Balaji Rao) from Tamil Nadu, suddenly became the 'talk of the nation' for the series against Australia, the odds were overwhelming, infact impossible for Hirwani’s return.

Fortunately for Hirwani and unfortunately for Balaji Rao, who couldn’t impress the selectors, despite media’s obsessed reporting (even before he could play his first Test)  Hirwani and the Mumbain leggin Sairaj Bahutule were called for the preparatory camp in Chennai after Rao’s not-so-good display.

In 1986’s Madras Test Hirwani took 16 wickets in his debut Test against the mighty Windies of 80’s, it was scripted as one of the most fascinating Test victories for India but unfortunately Hirwani was not much successful after his first Test. The last time when Hirwani played for India was in 1996 at Eden Gardens against the touring South African team.

Narendra Hirwani Test Statistics