New Delhi:
Will play against South Africa on Sunday World CupRefusing to call the K League match a ‘dress rehearsal for the final’, Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid on Saturday said he was not thinking that far ahead and the team still had three matches to play before the final in Ahmedabad. Unbeaten in the league stage Indian team They have won all seven matches so far, while South Africa are second with six wins from seven matches. Based on the current form, both are considered strong contenders for the final to be held on November 19 in Ahmedabad. The Indian coach said many important things in the press conference on the eve of the match. Let’s know the Indian coach’s opinion on six important issues.
A coach’s opinion on choosing the famous Krishna
Dravid said in the pre-match press conference, ‘Our team has done well in seven matches and now we are facing a team that is playing very well. We don’t care what people say. We focus on the next match and that is just the league match. Not thinking about the final in Ahmedabad right now as there are three matches to play before we get there. When Hardik Pandya got out when he was asked about choosing the famous Krishna as his replacement, Dravid said, ‘Hardik did not even play two matches against Australia before the World Cup. We were playing with three fast bowlers and two spinners. The reserves had options for spin, batting and bowling all-rounders and we knew which player would be the backup. We have recently tried this combination and that is why we have taken this decision.
Dravid’s attitude towards the sixth bowler
He also said that the Indian team is not missing a sixth specialist bowler. He said, “Hardik offers the option of a sixth bowler, but has been playing without him in the last four matches. We have won against Australia in Mohali and Indore without a sixth bowler. He has faced the challenge very well.” Dravid joked, ‘We also have a dangerous inswing bowler (Virat Kohli). In the last match, the crowd was demanding that he should bowl. Suryakumar can also bowl and Rohit can also bowl if required.’
‘We have to trust our tails’
When asked if playing without an extra batsman in the last few matches put pressure on the lower-order batsmen, the coach said, ‘Until now, only against England in Lucknow, we needed number eight and nine batsmen, who batted on difficult wickets. Crucial 46 runs. We have to trust the lower order batsmen who are doing very well. If we play as well as we need for the entire 50-over match, the top seven batsmen will do their job, there is no need beyond that.
Gill and Iyer were praised
Praising Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who batted brilliantly in the last match, he said the credit also goes to captain Rohit Sharma who believed in them. He said, “It’s good to see both of them playing like this. Gill was in great form but unfortunately he got dengue and it took time to recover. After that, playing in the heat and traveling so much takes its toll on his body. Credit is good. ” He was playing but could not score big. He came into this match and showed his natural game. We needed a big score and he showed that guts and skill. Despite his average performances in some matches, he also got full support from the captain.
Jadeja knows his role well
Describing spinner Ravindra Jadeja as a complete package, he also credited the performances of Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. He said, “Our fast bowlers are playing so well that sometimes the performance of Jadeja and Kuldeep is overlooked. Their bowling in the middle overs is helping Rohit control the match a lot. Jadeja knows this very well. What is his role? And how is that. To play him. His fielding has been brilliant and he is the complete package for us.”
Has Team India become invincible?
Asked if the Indian team has become unbeaten like Australia, Dravid said, “Our focus is on playing well and we don’t think too far ahead. That’s why we have been able to play well. We just think about it.” Who is the next match against? We don’t even think about the opposing team, rather we just focus on our strategy, our skills, our technique.”