Bridgetown (Barbados), Rahul Dravid said India has been remarkably consistent in playing three ICC finals in the last 12 months and the outgoing head coach hoped the combination of smart cricket and luck would get his team an ICC title. ICC hard to reach here.
India have been a far superior team in the ongoing T20 World Cup, just as they were in the ODI World Cup at home last year, where they faltered at the last hurdle against Australia.
Now, Rohit and company will take on South Africa in the showpiece match at the Kensington Oval, hoping to win a world title after their Champions Trophy triumph in 2013. “It is good that we have been playing good cricket consistently. We have been to finals in all three formats and the credit goes to the players. If we play well and the touch of the green goes (our way), we will surely win,” said Dravid, who will look to end his tenure on a high.
When the trophy is at stake, players tend to feel more pressure than usual.
But in terms of mental preparation, there is not much India can do with just a day difference between the semi-final and the final. The team traveled to Barbados right after the semi-final in Guyana against England, but Dravid said India is mentally prepared. for the game.
“In terms of our preparation, we only have one day in the middle, so it is unlikely that we will have practice.
"It's just about all the boys making sure that physically, mentally and tactically we are ready for the game." Dravid underlined his team's preparation for the showpiece match.
“Those are the things that we can control, that we are fresh, that we have taken care of all our problems, if there are any. We have done all our tactical preparation and we are mentally relaxed, excited and looking forward to the game.
"We will look to do it in the next 24 hours and try to get in the right frame of mind to be able to play that match," said the former India captain. In 2023, India lost the WTC final and the ODI World Cup final to Australia. Have you learned any lessons from those heartbreaking defeats?
"Nothing. I thought we were very well prepared in Ahmedabad (ODI WC). We ticked all the boxes and that day the other team played better. That's part of sport.
“The other team that is coming to play also obviously made it to the final because they are a good team and they are also playing very good cricket. So, they have as much right to win as we do, but we hope to play better cricket that day,” he said. Dravid on the familiarity with Barbados
=======================
In their first Super 8 match here, India were able to score 181 against Afghanistan on a pitch where playing up front was difficult. Dravid said they were looking to carry that knowledge into the match against South Africa.
“Yeah, I mean, just the fact that we played a game in Barbados is good. It's good that we have the familiarity of having played on that surface in the past.
“But again, I think it's very difficult... We're not going to get exactly the same ground that we got last time. I mean, it can be different, right? Dravid emphasized the work the team put in as a group in coming up with this masterpiece and praised their adaptation skills.
“I think what is really important is that we have done very well as a group. Throughout this tournament we have shown the ability to adapt, to recognize what a good result is. We played very differently in New York, then we played in St. Lucia, then we even played in Barbados when I thought the game was pretty slow.
"I just hope that whatever we face, we have the ability to recognize it and be able to play accordingly, like we have done in the last three games," Dravid said. He was referring to India's ability to post above-par totals on surfaces tough ones, including the semi-final in Guyana, where they managed to post 171 on a low-bounce surface.
South Africa managed to break the jinx of the World Cup semi-finals, and Dravid said the Proteas will carry no baggage.
“Not really, I mean it's not like the same players have been playing since 1991 and there are so many players that come and go. I don't think that really matters. I can't speak for them. But I don't think players carry their baggage from the past. Similarly, Dravid said Indian players have the ability to overcome the Ahmedabad debacle last year.
“The players are very good at leaving things behind, recognizing them. So, we will move forward from Ahmedabad. I'm sure they won't think about the story. It will be a new day.
“Two good teams, two teams that I think everyone will agree on and that will probably be the two best teams in this tournament. So, deserved finals for both teams. And hopefully it will be a great game of cricket. Hopefully, we will fall on the right side,” Dravid added.
India have been a far superior team in the ongoing T20 World Cup, just as they were in the ODI World Cup at home last year, where they faltered at the last hurdle against Australia.
Now, Rohit and company will take on South Africa in the showpiece match at the Kensington Oval, hoping to win a world title after their Champions Trophy triumph in 2013. “It is good that we have been playing good cricket consistently. We have been to finals in all three formats and the credit goes to the players. If we play well and the touch of the green goes (our way), we will surely win,” said Dravid, who will look to end his tenure on a high.
When the trophy is at stake, players tend to feel more pressure than usual.
But in terms of mental preparation, there is not much India can do with just a day difference between the semi-final and the final. The team traveled to Barbados right after the semi-final in Guyana against England, but Dravid said India is mentally prepared. for the game.
“In terms of our preparation, we only have one day in the middle, so it is unlikely that we will have practice.
"It's just about all the boys making sure that physically, mentally and tactically we are ready for the game." Dravid underlined his team's preparation for the showpiece match.
“Those are the things that we can control, that we are fresh, that we have taken care of all our problems, if there are any. We have done all our tactical preparation and we are mentally relaxed, excited and looking forward to the game.
"We will look to do it in the next 24 hours and try to get in the right frame of mind to be able to play that match," said the former India captain. In 2023, India lost the WTC final and the ODI World Cup final to Australia. Have you learned any lessons from those heartbreaking defeats?
"Nothing. I thought we were very well prepared in Ahmedabad (ODI WC). We ticked all the boxes and that day the other team played better. That's part of sport.
“The other team that is coming to play also obviously made it to the final because they are a good team and they are also playing very good cricket. So, they have as much right to win as we do, but we hope to play better cricket that day,” he said. Dravid on the familiarity with Barbados
=======================
In their first Super 8 match here, India were able to score 181 against Afghanistan on a pitch where playing up front was difficult. Dravid said they were looking to carry that knowledge into the match against South Africa.
“Yeah, I mean, just the fact that we played a game in Barbados is good. It's good that we have the familiarity of having played on that surface in the past.
“But again, I think it's very difficult... We're not going to get exactly the same ground that we got last time. I mean, it can be different, right? Dravid emphasized the work the team put in as a group in coming up with this masterpiece and praised their adaptation skills.
“I think what is really important is that we have done very well as a group. Throughout this tournament we have shown the ability to adapt, to recognize what a good result is. We played very differently in New York, then we played in St. Lucia, then we even played in Barbados when I thought the game was pretty slow.
"I just hope that whatever we face, we have the ability to recognize it and be able to play accordingly, like we have done in the last three games," Dravid said. He was referring to India's ability to post above-par totals on surfaces tough ones, including the semi-final in Guyana, where they managed to post 171 on a low-bounce surface.
South Africa managed to break the jinx of the World Cup semi-finals, and Dravid said the Proteas will carry no baggage.
“Not really, I mean it's not like the same players have been playing since 1991 and there are so many players that come and go. I don't think that really matters. I can't speak for them. But I don't think players carry their baggage from the past. Similarly, Dravid said Indian players have the ability to overcome the Ahmedabad debacle last year.
“The players are very good at leaving things behind, recognizing them. So, we will move forward from Ahmedabad. I'm sure they won't think about the story. It will be a new day.
“Two good teams, two teams that I think everyone will agree on and that will probably be the two best teams in this tournament. So, deserved finals for both teams. And hopefully it will be a great game of cricket. Hopefully, we will fall on the right side,” Dravid added.
