New Delhi, Aug 28, 2025 : Rahul Dravid, known as “The Wall” of Indian cricket, is widely regarded as one of the most technically sound batters in the game’s history. His impeccable defence, elegant cover drives, and unflappable temperament made him a nightmare for fast bowlers and spinners alike. From Shoaib Akhtar to Shane Warne, the world’s best often struggled to break through his technique.

Recently, while speaking on the Haal Chaal Aur Sawaal podcast with Ashish Kaushik, the former India captain and head coach shared his perspective on batting styles, drawing comparisons between short and tall cricketers. While doing so, he ended up making a playful remark about Virat Kohli—one he immediately realised the Indian batting icon might not appreciate.

Dravid explained how shorter players often appear more balanced at the crease due to their lower centre of gravity. He cited legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and even Sir Don Bradman as examples. “Gavaskar was a beautifully balanced player. Tendulkar too was very still and composed. Shorter players tend to look more natural and elegant because of physics,” Dravid said.

He then added with a smile: “Kohli is short-ish. Virat Kohli might not like me calling him shortish, though.”

The remark touched a light nerve, but it was said in good humour. Kohli and Dravid, after all, shared memorable times together, including India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph.

Dravid, who idolised Gavaskar growing up, stressed that his own taller frame made him adopt a different style. Unlike his shorter contemporaries, he had to work harder to maintain balance and rhythm at the crease. But despite his height, Dravid carved out a reputation as one of the greatest technicians, relying on patience and precision rather than brute force.

The conversation then shifted to the contrasting strengths of tall batters. While shorter players may look aesthetically pleasing, Dravid pointed out that taller ones often possess greater power and reach—qualities that modern-day T20 cricket thrives on. “As the game evolves, power-hitting has become crucial. Physics tells us taller batters have an advantage when it comes to reach and striking sixes. Look at Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Yuvraj Singh—big hitters who changed the dynamics of limited-overs cricket,” he said.

Interestingly, Dravid was an exception to that rule. Despite being tall, he was never a “power-hitter” in the mould of Gayle or Pietersen. Instead, he relied on grinding out bowlers, batting for long hours, and anchoring innings with classical strokes. His batting manual approach was in sharp contrast to today’s power-packed style of play.

Dravid’s thoughtful comments highlighted the beauty of variety in batting. From Gavaskar’s compact stance to Kohli’s aggressive elegance, and from Gayle’s explosive six-hitting to Dravid’s textbook solidity, cricket has always celebrated different approaches. His little quip about Kohli’s height only added a touch of humour to what was otherwise a deeply insightful reflection on batting techniques.

For fans, it was yet another reminder that when Dravid talks about batting, it’s always worth listening.