Like Father, Like Son: Samit Dravid’s text-book knock in Maharaja Trophy evokes memories of Rahul’s 90s playbook

Samit Dravid, the 20-year-old son of Indian cricket icon Rahul Dravid, left spectators and fans spellbound with a masterclass in classical batting during a Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 clash on July 1. Representing Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters against the Hubli Tigers at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground, the young batter displayed an array of strokeplay that instantly echoed his father's legendary elegance. Eschewing modern-day brute force for pure technical precision, Samit's fluent 32 off 23 balls was punctuated by six exquisite boundaries, including crisp back-foot cuts, elegant lofted drives, and authoritatively controlled pulls that had cricket enthusiasts feeling a strong sense of nostalgia.

Samit Dravid revives the forgotten 90s style of father Rahul in Maharaja Trophy

The innings carried significant weight beyond its aesthetic appeal, coming at a time of immense pressure for the Blasters. Batting first, the team suffered a nightmare start, losing two quick wickets within the opening eight deliveries of the match. Walking into a crisis, Samit displayed a temperament far beyond his years—a trademark calmness long associated with the Dravid name. His stabilizing knock successfully arrested the slide and laid a vital foundation, allowing teammates Rohan Patil (64) and Praveen Dubey (51) to launch a counter-attack and propel the Blasters to a commanding total of 203 for 7. It proved to be a match-winning effort, as the Hubli Tigers narrowly fell short of the target despite a roaring 60 from Manvanth Kumar.

It was the textbook mechanics of Samit's batting rather than the volume of runs that truly set social media ablaze. Within moments of his dismissal, highlight reels of his fluid cover drives and flawless balance flooded digital platforms, rapidly going viral as fans drew uncanny parallels to Rahul Dravid's peak era in the 1990s. The striking similarities in stance, trigger movements, and follow-throughs prompted a wave of admiration across the cricket community, with many awe-struck observers declaring the young batsman a virtual "photocopy" of his illustrious father.

Watch the video here:

Blasters edge Tigers in last-ball thriller

As far as match is concerned, The Bengaluru Blasters narrowly defended their total to secure a thrilling two-run victory over the Hubli Tigers in a high-scoring KSCA T20 Trophy clash. Sent in to bat first, the Blasters posted a formidable 203 for 7, fueled by a 70-run second-wicket partnership between Samit Dravid (32) and Rohan Patil, who top-scored with a fiery 64. Praveen Dubey kept the momentum alive with a blistering 51 before Shivraj slammed a quickfire 23 off just seven deliveries at the death. Vaibhav Sharma was the pick of the Tigers' bowling attack, claiming 3 for 38.

The Hubli Tigers launched a spirited response to the massive 204-run target, taking the contest down to the absolute final delivery. Solid contributions from Aneeshwar Gautam (34) and Shivkumar Rakshith (41) set the stage for Manvanth Kumar, who threatened to snatch victory with a spectacular, blistering 60 off only 22 balls. However, the Blasters' bowling unit held their nerve when it mattered most. Nischith Rao delivered a stellar spell of 3 for 27, combining with Vidwath Kaverappa (2/55) to pick up crucial wickets in the closing stages, leaving the Tigers stranded at 201 for 7 when they needed five runs off the final ball.

This hard-fought win marks the Bengaluru Blasters' sixth victory in seven tournament outings, comfortably cementing their spot at the top of the league standings with 12 points. Their impressive run includes dominant wins over the Gulbarga Mystics, Shivamogga Yodhas, and Coastal Kings Mangaluru, with their solitary defeat coming at the hands of the Mysore Warriors. Conversely, the agonizingly close defeat leaves the Hubli Tigers reflecting on their third loss of the campaign as they look to course-correct in their upcoming fixtures.