New Delhi: With the curtains falling on his tenure as Team India head coach, Rahul Dravid had a final say on his team ahead of the blockbuster final clash at the T20 World Cup 2024. The former Indian cricketer said that India have been remarkably consistent in the last year and he remains hopeful that the team can land the elusive trophy their side in Barbados on Saturday.
Dravid had announced his departure as Team India’s head coach before the beginning of the marquee event, making it his final assignment. The outgoing coach has led India to three ICC finals in a span of 12 years, which he feels is a testament to their consistency and he hopes that luck plays its part to do the remainder in India’s quest for the elite title.
Team India has been on a similar run just like the ODI World Cup 2023 where they stormed into the final undefeated and faltered once and for all against Australia. The Rohit Sharma-led side will face South Africa in the summit match at the Kensington Oval, aiming to end the knockout hoodoo since the 2013 Champions Trophy and bagging their second T20 World Cup.
“It is a good thing we have been consistently playing good cricket. We have been in finals in all three formats and credit goes to the players. If we play well and rub of the green goes (our way) we will surely win,” Dravid said at the pre-match press conference, eyeing to end his tenure on a high.
2023 heartbreaks
Dravid was made to remember the 2023 ICC title losses – the WTC final and the ODI World Cup final, both to Australia. When asked if they took any lessons from those heartbreaking defeats, Dravid said, “No, nothing. I thought we were very well-prepared in Ahmedabad (ODI WC). We ticked all the boxes and, on that day, the other team played better. That’s part of the sport.
“The other team that’s coming there to play has also obviously reached the final because they’re a good team and they’re playing very good cricket as well. So, they have as much right to win it as we do, but we hope that we’ll play better cricket on the day,” he said.
Dravid further said that the Indian players have the ability to move on from the debacle suffered in Ahmedabad last year. “Players are very good at moving on from things, recognizing things. So, we will move on from Ahmedabad. I’m sure they will not be thinking about history. It’ll be a fresh day.
“Two good teams, two teams I think that everyone will agree will probably be the top two teams in this tournament. So, deserving finals for both the teams. And, hopefully, it’s a great game of cricket. Hopefully, we fall on the right side,” Dravid added.
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Rahul Dravid will bid adieu to Team India after the culmination of T20 World Cup 2024 and the mega final clash on Saturday will be his final outing as the Men in Blue’s head coach. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
