Rahul Dravid rues India’s first-day no-show with the ball
India head coach Rahul Dravid was point-blank in his evaluation that the 469 they conceded after electing to bowl on a “green wicket” put India on the again foot. It meant enjoying catch up for the remainder of the WTC final at The Oval.
“It wasn’t a 469 wicket,” Dravid informed Star Sports, after Australia wrapped up a 209-run victory. “On the first day, last session, conceding 157 [for no wicket] was disappointing. We knew the lines and lengths we needed to bowl; the lengths weren’t bad, but we went wide with our lines, gave a lot of room to Travis Head, he capitalised and we fell behind.”
That stated, Dravid additionally rued India’s dismissals late on the fourth day in a chase of 444. Rohit Sharma was out sweeping Nathan Lyon, Cheteshwar Pujara out to an tried ramp and Shubman Gill caught within the gully to a contentious catch that elicited widespread debate.
“Yesterday I felt on this wicket, we played three-four shots, we could’ve been a bit careful,” Dravid stated. “It was tough, [but] there was hope. However far behind you are, you always fight. In the two years, we’ve had situations where we’ve been behind but have made comebacks.
“The good factor was we had been behind for 2 days on this Test however did not hand over and fought nicely. We wanted an distinctive efficiency, an enormous partnership [on the final day]. We had the gamers, however they [Australia] had the higher hand, they bowled nicely, bought a few wickets and it will possibly occur.”
Why did India choose to bowl in the WTC final?
Asked about India’s decision to bowl first, Dravid said overhead conditions played a big role in that. As it turned out, barring the first hour, the rest of the Test was played in glorious sunshine with temperatures touching 30 degrees C on the fourth and fifth days.
“In the [first] morning, there was plenty of grass, the overhead circumstances had been cloudy and, in England, we felt batting will get simpler – even on the fourth and fifth day, there wasn’t a lot taking place,” Dravid said. “Lot of groups win the toss and discipline. At 70 [76] for 3, we felt it was a very good resolution, however the complexion of the sport modified within the two periods after that.
“Had we restricted them to 300-odd, it would’ve been a good score, we would’ve still been in the game, and it would’ve been a tight third and fourth innings. It’s one of those things in England. Last year at Edgbaston, the fourth innings became easier, and England chased 380 [378] easily. We knew 444 is a lot of runs, but if we kept them to 320, we could’ve chased it.”
Dravid was then requested if he felt the highest 5 wanted to do higher. While he agreed the “legends” can be the primary to be disillusioned with their very own returns, he cited how the dip in averages over the past two years was additionally a mirrored image of harder pitches.
“The same boys have won twice in Australia, won Tests in England,” Dravid stated. “Yes, they will agree this wasn’t up to their high standards but we’re working on it. Some of the wickets have been challenging. This was a good wicket, but some other conditions haven’t been easy.
“When you are trying on the WTC, you are qualification. Sometimes the strain is on you to get factors in each single recreation, and it will possibly get fairly robust. It is typically a danger all of us must take.”
India coach Rahul Dravid on churning out spin-friendly tracks at home
“Every recreation is essential within the WTC. You want factors, cannot play for attracts. So all over the place, even in India, the wickets have been robust. You must issue this in whereas averages. It’s not simply ours, however sure, we have to work on it. If we give bowlers runs to play with, we are able to win Tests.”
Do India need to move away from spin-friendly home tracks?
On the point of “harder pitches”, Dravid was asked by Harbhajan Singh if India needed to re-look at their policy of tailoring tracks to suit their spinners at home, which brought with it the inherent risk of batters being undercooked against quality pace abroad. While Dravid agreed pitches that turned from the first ball weren’t ideal, the nature of the WTC and the pressure to win meant they needed to take risks, he said.
“Nobody desires wickets to show from the primary ball and switch sq., however actually while you’re enjoying the WTC and enjoying for factors, because it will get to the again finish of it, everybody expects you to qualify, everybody desires you to high quality, everybody desires to return to video games like this [final]. In conditions like that, at instances, it’s important to take a number of dangers.
“We’re not the only team taking risks. You look at the wickets in Australia, look at the wicket in Brisbane [when South Africa toured last year], Australia also used to play on wickets that lasted five days, but now they’re also playing on wickets that are lasting three-four days in their own country.
“When you are trying on the WTC, you are qualification. Sometimes the strain is on you to get factors in each single recreation, and typically it will possibly get fairly robust. Sometimes, wickets have turn out to be result-oriented. While I agree a few of the wickets in India have been troublesome, it is typically a danger all of us must take.”
Was there enough time between IPL 2023 and WTC final?
India came into this Test on the back of a staggered week-long preparation. With the IPL only having finished on May 29, several first-choice players only linked up with the squad a week prior to the Test. After a short camp in Arundel, India began training in London from June 3 only. Dravid was again point-blank when asked if this was ideal.
“I’m by no means going to be pleased with the prep as a coach, however that is a actuality I’m confronted with…we’re confronted with,” he said. “Schedules are so cramped and tight. When you’ve got been enjoying worldwide cricket, in the event you’re right here three weeks earlier than the tour and play two facet video games, you are going to be higher ready.
“We don’t have that, got to do what we can, but no excuses, no complaints. I want to congratulate Australia. They played better than us for five days. We don’t need to make excuses, we need to look at ourselves, see what we can get better at, what we can improve on, and that’s a constant effort.”
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo