Follow UsFormer Indian captain and head coach Rahul Dravid has revealed that he always found shorter batters like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and Sir Don Bradman more aesthetically pleasing to watch. According to Dravid, their lower centre of gravity gave them a natural advantage in balance and stroke play.
Speaking on the 'Haal Chaal Aur Sawaal Podcast' with Ashish Kaushik, Dravid explained that shorter players often look “more balanced,” before cheekily adding Virat Kohli - though he quickly admitted the Delhi batter might not like being described as short.
"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,” Dravid said.
“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 Lara or Ponting… going back to Bradman. Kohli is short-ish. Virat Kohli might not like me calling him shortish, though.”
Dravid also acknowledged that taller batters come with their own set of advantages, especially in modern-day cricket, where power-hitting is so important. "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.”
As for Kohli, he has already retired from T20Is and Tests but remains determined to play the 2027 ODI World Cup. His next challenge will be the three-match ODI series against Australia in October.