It was a setpiece occasion. For Sachin Tendulkar's 100th Test and for what Indian fans hoped would be their first overseas series win in 16 years. Yet, chances are that in years to come, the Oval Test will simply serve as confirmation of the importance of Rahul Dravid to Indian cricket. For all the hype about Tendulkar, Dravid is India's most important modern batsman. That's saying a lot. Tendulkar's cameo today – only for him can a fifty be a mere cameo – served to emphasize his genius. Like all the greats, he makes batting look easy and reaches landmarks like 50 and 100 before one realizes it. With Dravid, on the other hand, one sees the effort, and every century seems hard-earned. One of the differences between them is that Dravid makes a monumental innings seem monumental, while with Tendulkar, it all looks so effortless, one almost takes it for granted.

Another difference – a key one – is that Dravid has a sense of occasion. His big knocks, especially in the last couple of years, have come at the crunch – exactly the time when many would aver Tendulkar under-performs. Dravid's overseas average, at the end of the third day's play, stands at almost 59, while Tendulkar is at an also-respectable 53. But statistics don't always indicate context, and that is where Dravid stands out even more.

Consider some of the key innings he's played in the last year-and-a-half. He followed up his crucial 180 against Australia at Kolkata last year – without which VVS Laxman's masterpiece might have been stillborn – with a crucial 81 at No. 6 in the deciding third Test, and then a matchwinning 75 in Sri Lanka at Kandy that brought India level in that series. Later, in South Africa, he played a gritty knock of 87 on the final day of the second Test at Port Elizabeth, and saved the match.

Both those overseas tours ended in defeat, and India then went to the West Indies, where they lost three early wickets in the first Test after West Indies piled up 501. Dravid came to the rescue again, with a magnificent 144 not out. He made over 400 runs and averaged 58 in the series, but the Indian bowlers failed them miserably, and so off it was to England.

And what a series he's had. For the entire West Indies tour, he had looked in tremendous nick but had got only one big hundred. That run of promising to deceive threatened to continue here when he got starts in both innings of the Lord's Test but failed to capitalise, and India lost. But then he hit up a stirring 115 at Trent Bridge to save the match for India, and then constructed a monumental 148 in the Leeds Test that brought India their biggest-ever overseas win, and made them level in the series. And then this knock, without which the possibility of England sealing the series would have been very much active.

In the last two years, including this innings, Dravid has averaged almost 66, and the majority of his big scores have been played with his back to a wall. But while he has often got stereotyped as a stodgy customer, the man isn't just about character and commitment, but also about talent. He has loads of it.

Not only does Dravid look the most secure and unruffled of batsmen, he can also be the most attractive when he plays his strokes, as he did in flashes during this innings, especially at the start. He embodies the classically correct player, and is both graceful and emphatic when driving or cutting, and is a beautiful batsman to watch when he can afford to indulge himself, or when the bad ball comes his way. More than just a wall, as they call him in India, he can also be high art.

In a recent interview with Kapil Dev, Dravid was asked what was the happiest moment of his life. He picked two: India's win over Australia last year at Kolkata; and the win in the NatWest Trophy a couple of months ago. In one game, he played an instrumental but supporting role. In the other, his contribution was negligible. But both were high points for India, and illustrated how he lives and breathes for his team. India is lucky to have him.

Amit Varma is assistant editor of Wisden.com in India.

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