Indian batsman Rahul Dravid says it was beyond his dreams to achieve 10,000 Test runs.

The 35-year-old Dravid became only the sixth player to reach the landmark while scoring 111 for his 25th century on day four of the first Test against South Africa.

Dravid also became only the third player to achieve the landmark in both Tests and one-dayers, joining compatriot Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies batsman Brian Lara.

"It is a proud moment," he told reporters. "For me, growing up, I dreamt of playing for India. When I look back I probably exceeded my expectations with what I have done over the last 10 to 12 years.

"I can look back and reflect that I maximised my potential over these years," he said. "To do it in Chennai with my family and friends watching was great."

Dravid said he remembered as a boy when Sunil Gavaskar became the first to reach the mark, with a late cut against Pakistan in the Ahmedabad Test in 1987.

"I never had an ambition to do it because I never believed," he said. "It is just a reflection of my longevity in the game."

Australians Allan Border and Steve Waugh are the other two players to score 10,000 Test runs.

"For me to be in that company is surreal in some ways," Dravid said. "I know Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis, the other two great batsmen of my generation, are also probably going to get there very soon."

He was disappointed that opener Virender Sehwag could not break Lara's world record for the highest score (400 not out) after he was dismissed for an Indian-record 319 on Saturday.

"We knew if Viru batted for a couple of hours he would get close to it, if not pass it," he said. "He has always batted positively that is why he has been able to score that way."

Meanwhile, South African pace spearhead Dale Steyn showed he was a quick learner by leading a fightback against India in the first Test on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Steyn grabbed four of the last five wickets to restrict India's first-innings lead to 87 after opener Virender Sehwag notched up an Indian Test best of 319 on the fourth day.

India were all out for 627 before South Africa reached 1-131 in their second innings at stumps to lead by 44 runs, making sure they would not lose on the final day on Sunday.

Steyn was man of the series in the last three series wins but had failed to strike until he produced his haul within 21 deliveries in a fine display of reverse swing.

"It's difficult bowling here," he said. "One thing is the pitch doesn't assist you much and we are not used to the balls we use here. It gets scuffed up pretty quickly due to the pitch.

"So it is a whole new experience," he said. "We learnt a lot from yesterday and we executed a lot better today.

"It is great coming off the field after taking a couple of wickets," he said. "It shows you that in conditions like this you have got to be able to put in the hard yards to get wickets.

"At one stage I bowled close to 27 overs and I hadn't taken a wicket yet and then in my last couple of overs I picked up four."

Steyn came into his own after the seasoned Makhaya Ntini took three wickets. Left-arm spinner Paul Harris took the other three.

The second Test will be played in Ahmedabad from Thursday.

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