India’s Rahul Dravid is Focused on World Cup and Asia Cup, Testing New Players
India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, has emphasized the importance of keeping the bigger picture in mind as the team prepares for the upcoming World Cup and Asia Cup. With several players currently injured, Dravid and the coaching staff are taking this opportunity to try out different players during the series against the West Indies.
We have got few of our players who are injured, who are in the NCA, Dravid said. With months to go for the World Cup or Asia Cup, we are kind of running out of time in a lot of ways, and we are hopeful that some of them will be fit for those tournaments. But we cannot take our chances. We have to try out other people so that, in a worst-case scenario, they have game time behind them.
Dravid acknowledged that playing regulars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in a series like this would not provide the answers they need ahead of the major tournaments. Instead, they are giving opportunities to young and talented players, despite facing criticism for their selection choices.
We are not too worried about others’ opinions, Dravid stated. These are talented boys from our country, and they have all performed and come here. It is up to them to take the opportunity when they are given the chance.
One player under scrutiny is Surya Kumar Yadav, who has shown promise but has yet to fully establish himself in the ODI format. Dravid expressed confidence in Yadav’s abilities and highlighted his continued learning curve in one-day cricket.
Surya is a really good player, Dravid said. Unfortunately, his ODI performances have not been up to his own high standards that he has set in T20s. He is also learning one-day cricket. We want to give him as many opportunities as we can, and then it is up to him to take those opportunities.
Another player who has impressed the coaching staff is Ishan Kishan. Dravid praised Kishan’s performances and his ability to seize opportunities when given the chance.
I think Ishan has done really well, Dravid said. He is taking the opportunities when he has been given a chance, and that is what we want from young players.
As India continues to test new players and fine-tune their squad for the upcoming World Cup and Asia Cup, Dravid’s focus remains on the bigger picture. While they may not be winning every match or series along the way, the coaching staff is determined to identify the right combination of players who can deliver success on the grand stage.
This approach may invite criticism and scrutiny, but Dravid is confident in their decisions and the potential of the young players in the squad. With the clock ticking and time running out, India aims to build a strong team capable of challenging the best in the world.
