Dravid’s overseas record is overrated.
1. The two best teams during Dravid’s playing days were Australia and South Africa.
2. In South Africa, he averaged 29 from 12 Tests.
In Australia, he averaged 42 from 16 Tests.
3. Dravid scores 1 century in 16 Tests in Australia. That too against an attack that didn’t have McGrath, Lee and Warne.
They are legendary knocks because India barely won anything back then and people remember rare things more.
I am not denying he was a great batsman in general and had a great peak between 2001-2006.
I am just saying Kohli has already overtaken Dravid as a batsman when all formats are considered.
No, it is not overrated. If anything you are underrating Dravid's overseas record by repeating those two points about Aus and SA.
Let's take a look at Dravid's overseas record during his peak (2002- 06).
He was no.1 in the world by a distance averaging at 80 during that period.
Now let's take a look at his overall record during that period excluding the matches with the minnows.
He was no.2 in the world averaging at 67 just behind Ponting.
Now let's look at the all time record for all the Asian players overseas.
He is again no.1 averaging at 53.
Now lets look at the all time record for India's overseas wins.
He is again no.1 by a big margin averaging at 71.
Dravid has won 4 man of the series awards overseas - Eng 02, Aus 03, WI 06 and Eng 11
Dravid has conquered the mighty Australian attack twice during his career for historical wins in Kolkata 01 and Adelaide 03. And not to forget his historical knocks at Rawalpindi 04 and Kingston 06 for series wins. It is not Dravid's fault that McGrath and Warne didn't play that 03 series, and that India didn't tour SA during his prime. Agreed that he didn't do well in SA when they did tour. But that doesn't diminish what he has accomplished in other countries.
Kohli's test career does not even come close to all of this. It is not anything particularly special if we are talking all time. We have three ATGs and then there is a huge gap. He may be an ATG ODI batsman but that does not have the same importance as being an ATG test batsman.
Kohli hasn't surpassed Dravid.
His case is an arguable one as things stand. An average of 53 even if it goes down to late forties will still be a quite a bit better than Kumble considering Kohli is a better all conditions player.
