Virender Sehwag defends cautious Rahul Dravid

Virender Sehwag defends cautious Rahul Dravid

Virender Sehwag was quick to defend Rahul Dravid's slow approach to his innings yesterday. Dravid went on to register his 30th Test century, but that was after consuming 100 deliveries for his initial 17 runs.

Dravid and Sehwag added a second-wicket stand of 237 runs as India amassed 329-3 at stumps. "He (Dravid) played his game and I played mine. We complement each other well.

He is such an experienced individual, and knows his own game better than anyone else. When we bat together, we never have to say too many things to each other. There's a great understanding," said Sehwag.

Rahul Dravid on his way to a hundred against NZ at Motera yesterday. PIC/AFP

The duo of Dravid and Sehwag has featured in several match-winning partnerships.u00a0 In fact, Dravid has proved to be Sehwag's most successful partneru00a0-- the duo averages a hundred stand every five innings.

Sehwag in partnerships:

>>u00a0With Rahul Dravid: Innings: 50, Runs: 3038, Highest: 410, Average: 63.29, 100 partnerships: 10

>>u00a0With Gautam Gambhir Innings: 50, Runs: 2890, Highest: 233, Average: 60.20, 100 partnerships: 7

lWith Sachin Tendulkar
Innings: 19, Runs: 1230, Highest: 336, Average: 64.00, 100 partnerships: 3

>> With VVS Laxman Innings: 16, Runs: 493, Highest: 100, Average: 30, 100 partnerships: 1

Memorable Dravid-Sehwag partnerships:

410-run opening stand against Pakistan, Lahore, January 2006

268-run stand against South Africa, Chennai, March 2008

237-run stand against Sri Lanka, Mumbai, December 2009