Rahul Dravid on correlation between height and batting: ‘Shorter people have the advantage…Virat Kohli might not like me calling him shortish’

Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid recalled that some legendary batters of the game have been short in height. From Sir Don Bradman to Sunil Gavaskar, from Brian Lara to Sachin Tendulkar and from Kane Williamson to Virat Kohli. 

Dravid reckons the shorter you are, the more it helps in your balance at the crease. The former Indian head coach grew up idolising Sunny Gavaskar, who was the first man to complete 10000 runs in Test cricket.

“Gavaskar was a beautifully balanced player,” Dravid said on the Haal Chaal Aur Sawaal podcast with Ashish Kaushik. “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.”

Dravid jokingly said that former Indian captain Virat Kohli might not like him for calling him ‘shortish’.

“A lot of great batters over the years have been shorter people. Look at Gavaskar, or Tendulkar or a Lara or Ponting… going back to Bradman. Kohli is short-ish. Virat Kohli might not like me calling him shortish, though.”

However, the former Indian head coach said the modern game is becoming more about power-hitting and thus the reach of lanky players like Kieron Pollard, Tim David and Kevin Pietersen is coming into play.

Dravid said, “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.”

After leading India to T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, Dravid joined Rajasthan Royals as a head coach.