Rahul Dravid is determined to taste the joy of winning in New Zealand, the only place where he has not experienced a Test victory

Recentlyu00a0the Holding Willey Report declared Rahul Dravid as India's greatest Test cricketer of all time. It is a tribute to the intense fighter for his unmatchable feats against the best in the most demanding and hostile conditions. For an Indian team, New Zealand provides a real challenge. It's a place they have not won in 41 years.

Rahul Dravid during his innings of 190 in the third Test of the 1998-99 series at Hamilton. PIC/AFP

The ultimate compliment to his batsmanship was when even during his poor run last season, when the topic of playing in New Zealand cropped up, it was said: 'We will need Dravid in NZ'.

The confidence in him is based on his record he averages 66 in Tests won by India, 78 in Tests won abroad.

Against the Kiwis in their backyard, he has scored 452 runs in four Tests at an average of 64.57. One of the hallmarks of the Dravid-Sachin Tendulkar-VVS Laxman era has been India's Test wins away from home against the most intimidating oppositions. A win in New Zealand, Dravid said will be the icing on the cake. "If we can win the series... nothing like it," he said.

This tour is also special for Dravid because he needs another two catches to surpass Mark Waugh's world record of 181 Test catches.

Excerpts from an interview just before he took the flight to Kiwiland:

Even when you were not doing well, there were many who said that Dravid will be needed in New Zealand? What does it mean to you?
I can take confidence from that fact and hopefully will try and replicate that. It is nice to have done well abroad. I have played in a Test match win everywhere in the world, except in New Zealand. So to win a Test match and the series will be great. I will try and make a good contribution to the team and if we can win the series... nothing like it.