Happy Birthday Rahul Dravid as we take a look at some interesting facts of 'The Wall'

Rahul Sharad Dravid is born in Indore on 11 January 1973 and makes his first-class debut for Karnataka against Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy just after his 18th birthday, scoring 82. He makes his India debut in a one-day international against Sri Lanka in April 1996

Dravid is the top run scorer at the 1999 World Cup with 461. He makes 145 against Sri Lanka, sharing a second-wicket stand of 318 with Ganguly, who smashes 183. It is the record ODI partnership for any wicket, but is beaten six months later when Tendulkar (186 not out) and Dravid (153) put on 331 against New Zealand

Australia's record run of 16 consecutive Test wins is ended in an astonishing game at Kolkata's Eden Gardens in March 2001. After India are forced to follow on, Dravid (180) and VVS Laxman (281) add 376 for the fifth wicket to set up a 171-run win in one of the greatest Test matches of all time

Although he is nicknamed "The Wall" for his safety-first batting style, Dravid's career hits a purple patch in the winter of 2003-04 when he hits double centuries in successive series against New Zealand, Australia and Pakistan, including a career-best 270 at Rawalpindi, and is ICC player of the year

By 2003, Dravid is India's vice-captain and although he is a losing finalist in that year's World Cup in South Africa, in May he marries surgeon Dr Vijeta Pendharkar. Her mother is quoted as saying that the new Mrs Dravid "has absolutely no interest in and no knowledge of cricket"

The 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean is a major disappointment for India, as they lose to Bangladesh in their opening game and fail to make it past the group stage. They win that summer's Test series in England, but Dravid relinquishes the captaincy (after recording eight wins from 25 Tests) to concentrate on his batting

In April 2009, Dravid sets a new record for Test catches by an outfielder when New Zealand's Tim McIntosh becomes his 182nd victim in Wellington, overtaking the previous record set by Australia's Mark Waugh. By the end of his Test career, Dravid has increased his record to 210