India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, expressed his contentment with the team’s preparedness for the forthcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, even after experiencing a defeat in the final match of the ODI series against Australia, which India won 2-1.
Dravid was notably impressed by the performances of key players like Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Ravichandran Ashwin during the series. He emphasized the importance of these players gaining valuable game time ahead of the World Cup.
“For players like Jasprit, Ashwin, Shreyas, KL, getting match practice was crucial. The fact that they were able to do so against a competitive side is a positive development. Practice games or warm-up matches often involve 15 vs. 15 scenarios, making it challenging to replicate the intensity of actual matches,” Dravid remarked during a post-match press conference following the third ODI on Wednesday.
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“It has been great to see Jasprit Bumrah complete his quota of 10 overs in a couple of games. Despite suffering from a bug, Mohammed Siraj made a successful return and bowled well today. Ashwin’s performance in the first two games was commendable. KL Rahul, who kept wickets for fifty overs after a 6-7 month absence, performed exceptionally well. Shreyas Iyer delivered strong performances in the last couple of games.”
Dravid expressed his satisfaction with the contributions of players returning from injuries or breaks, saying, “We have ticked many boxes. It’s gratifying to witness players who have recovered from injuries or extended breaks perform well and spend quality time in the middle, scoring runs and taking wickets. However, there are always areas for improvement.”
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Recognizing the challenges of the upcoming World Cup, Dravid emphasized the team’s commitment to continuous improvement. “The tournament will be tough and lengthy. We are continually looking to enhance our team, even when the results are in our favor.”
The 50-year-old coach also confirmed that the squad would convene in Guwahati on September 28 or 29 for the first warm-up fixtures scheduled for September 30.
“We have encountered a few cases of viral fever within the group. Balancing the team in this game was challenging due to players leaving for personal reasons. I expect everyone to be in Guwahati by the night of the 28th or early morning of the 29th, and hopefully, the bug that has been circulating among the team has cleared up as well,” Dravid stated.
India will commence their World Cup campaign on October 8, facing Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
-IANS
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