Rahul Dravid Explains Why Short Batters Look More Balanced
Rahul Dravid, widely respected as The Wall, recently shared his thoughts on the art of batting. Known for his flawless technique and patience, Dravid explained why shorter batters often look more elegant compared to taller ones. Speaking on the Haal Chaal Aur Sawaal Podcast with Ashish Kaushik, he drew comparisons between legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Donald Bradman, and Virat Kohli.
Dravid Praises Gavaskar and Tendulkar
Dravid revealed how Gavaskar’s balance left a lasting impression on him.
“Gavaskar was a beautifully balanced player. I always remember, he always seemed to. There was a stillness when he stood, which is what I admired. I was always slightly taller, so I didn’t copy anything. I just stood in a way that made me feel uncomfortable. Tendulkar again was very balanced. Shorter people have the advantage of looking more balanced because the centre of gravity is lower. That’s what they say. A lot of great batters over the years have been shorter people. Look at Gavaskar, or Tendulkar or a [Brian] Lara or a [Ricky] Ponting… going back to [Donald] Bradman. Kohli is short-ish. Virat Kohli might not like me calling him shortish, though,” Dravid said.
He stressed that shorter players naturally appear more pleasing to watch due to their low centre of gravity and balance.
Tall Batters and the Power Game
While elegance often favours shorter players, Dravid pointed out how taller batters dominate the modern power game.
“But today, as the game is changing and becoming a lot about power and hitting sixes. The reach of the taller guys is becoming an advantage. Physics will tell you. Kevin Pietersen, Kieron Pollard. Look at the guys who are batting these days, in T20s especially,” he added.
Names like Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Yuvraj Singh, and Kieron Pollard exemplify how tall batters use reach and strength to thrive in the T20 era.
Rahul Dravid’s observations underline how stature shapes batting style. From the balance of Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar to the power of Chris Gayle and Pollard, cricket continues to showcase contrasting strengths. For Dravid, elegance may belong to shorter batters like Kohli and Lara, but modern cricket increasingly rewards tall strikers.
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