"He was damn good.." Rahul Dravid names the toughest pacer and spinner he faced in his career

Rahul Dravid played for India from 1996 to 2012.

Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid has revealed the toughest pacer and spinner he faced in his international career. Dravid is considered one of the greatest batsmen to ever play for Indian Cricket Team.

Dravid played for India from 1996 to 2012. The right-handed batsman is the second highest run-scorer for India in test cricket after Sachin Tendulkar. He is also the third-highest run-scorer for India in international cricket with more than 24,000 runs.

From 2021 to 2024, Dravid had a successful stint as India head coach. Under his guidance, India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2025.

Rahul Dravid names Glenn McGrath as the toughest pacer he faced in his career

Dravid recently appeared on former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube show “Kutti Stories with Ash.” During the show, he named former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath as the toughest pacer he faced in his international career. Dravid further added that Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were also dangerous, however, he did not face them in their prime.

“As a fast bowler, it had to be Glenn McGrath. I kind of played Wasim (Akram) and Waqar (Younis) at the back end of their careers. So it’s not kind of fair. People who played Wasim earlier say that he was in a different league, and I could imagine after seeing the videos, I can imagine.And even bowling at the back end of his career, he was damn good,” he said.

“But I played McGrath at his peak. He was a phenomenal bowler. He challenged my off stump more than anyone ever did. Just being able to go close to the stumps, get the bounce and just the level of fitness. He was able to come at you right through the whole day. I have played faster bowlers than him, but in terms of consistency and skill, he must be the toughest bowler I’ve faced,” he added.

Dravid then termed former Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan as the toughest spinner he faced in his career.

“As a spinner, Muralitharan was the best bowler that I played against. Great skill. He had the ability to spin the ball both ways. Especially when he came round the wicket and got the doosra away from you. So, he was someone who was never tired and bowled really long spells. He kept at you and kept at you… and he is just a phenomenal spinner,” he said.

Notably, Muttiah Muralitharan is still the highest wicket-taker in international cricket. Meanwhile, Dravid played 164 tests, 344 ODIs, and 1 T20I for India from 1996 to 2012. At an average of 52.31, he amassed 13,288 runs in tests with 36 centuries. He scored 10,889 runs in ODIs at an average of 39.17, with 12 centuries and 83 half-centuries.

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