India’s hopes of clinching an ICC trophy were dashed in the recent World Cup final against Australia. Despite a strong campaign, the team’s batting unit struggled to make an impact on the grand stage, scoring a below-par 240 against the formidable Australian side.
In a post-match interview, a reporter questioned head coach Rahul Dravid about the team’s approach, highlighting the contrasting performances of some batsmen.
“In big matches, we tend to play cautiously, with Rohit scoring 45-47 in 30 balls, and some batsmen taking 110 balls for 60-65 runs. Is our approach suitable for these situations?”
Dravid responded by dismissing the notion that the team played with fear.
“I don’t believe we played with fear. In the final, at 80 runs in 10 overs, we lost wickets, prompting a change in strategy. We demonstrated adaptability against England. In the final, we weren’t defensive, the opposition bowled well in the middle overs,” he said.
“Losing three wickets called for consolidation. Whenever we attempted an attacking shot, wickets fell. Rebuilding after a partnership is crucial. Marnus and Head established a solid partnership without getting out. Rebuilding is necessary when wickets fall in the middle, but it doesn’t mean we adopted a defensive approach,” he added.
Looking ahead, Dravid remained non-committal about his future and the upcoming T20 World Cup.
“I haven’t considered next year’s T20 World Cup, and I’m uncertain about the future,” he said.
The coach praised skipper Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership and commitment throughout the campaign. Despite the disappointment of the final result, Dravid expressed gratitude for the joy the team had provided in recent months.
Reflecting on the defeat, Dravid acknowledged the disappointment in the dressing room but urged the team to move on as sportsmen.
“Rohit has shown exceptional leadership, dedicated to planning and investing personal time and energy into this campaign. Despite the disappointment, the team has brought a lot of joy in the past months. Of course, Rohit and the team are disappointed, and as a coach, it’s tough to witness the emotion in the dressing room. But, as sportsmen, we move on, and the sun will rise again tomorrow,” he concluded.