Rahul Dravid (left) and Alan Donald were involved in an on-field spat during an ODI match in 1997. (Express File)Team India coach Rahul Dravid had an exceptional series with the bat in his first tour of South Africa in 1997. The former India captain scored his maiden Test hundred, carried his form in the ODI tri-series, with Zimbabwe with the third team. But the tour was mostly remember for his ugly spat with South Africa pacer Allan Donald in the final.
Although, India lost the rain-hit final by 17 runs, Rahul Dravid was adjudged as player of the match for his valiant 84. Dravid hit five fours and one six, forged crucial partnerships for the second and third wicket with the then captain Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin (45). However, he didn’t get much help from the other batters and India was bowled out for 234.
The lone six from Dravid’s bat came off against Allan Donald, when he hoicked the South African pacer over long-on. That shot started the on-field spat between Dravid and Donald, which the South African pacer later called it one of the “worst moments” of his career.
Donald to Dravid – SIX
Happy Birthday Rahul Dravid pic.twitter.com/oZdI1KghDC
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) January 11, 2023
More than two decades later, in December 2022, during India’s tour of Bangladesh, Donald, who was the bowling coach of the Bangladesh team issued an apology to Dravid for sledging the Indian batter during a tri-nation series match in 1997.
“There was one ugly incident in Durban when I talk about. Dravid and Sachin were smoking us to all parts. I overstepped the mark a little bit. I’ve just nothing but massive respect for Rahul Dravid.
“I would love to sit with Rahul and go out for a dinner and say sorry to him again about what happened that day. I just had to do something silly that brought his wicket actually.
“But I still apologise for what I said that day. What a great guy, what a great bloke. So Rahul, if you are listening, I would love to have a night out with you,” Donald said in an interview on Sony Sports Network.
Dravid, on the other hand, was all praise for the former pacer, adding that he would love to pick his brains.
“He was a great bowler. He’s probably one of the best I have ever played in my career. I must admit when I see him now and meet him at the ground ‘It’s much nicer to see you like this without a ball in your hand and top of your mark with the sunscreen on the face.’
“He was an intimidating fast bowler and a terrific one. I would love to catch (up) with him and talk about fast bowling, he’s gone on to become a very successful coach, coaching a lot of young fast bowlers. “We have got a lot of young guys as well and it will be good to pick his brains. Just the privilege of sharing the field with him is phenomenal,” Dravid said.
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