‘You have no guarantees to win any game of cricket’ – Rahul Dravid on India facing New Zealand in ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final
India’s head coach and former cricketer Rahul Dravid talked about the pressures faced by the Indian cricket team ahead of the semifinals of the ODI World Cup 2023. Notably, India has become the only team that has remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and stands on the number one position of the points table.
India will face New Zealand for the first semi-final match of the ODI World Cup 2023 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 15 November. Dravid discussed that there is no guarantee that a team will win a match or not; it all depends on the team’s preparation the team has done.
“I would be in-authentic if I say that there will be no pressure in the semi-final. You have no guarantees to win any game of cricket. What you can do is prepare the best you can and we’ve been doing that. When it’s going well it looks good. One loss and everyone says you don’t know anything,” Rahul Dravid said while talking to Star Sports after India beat Netherlands 160 runs in the last league match of the ODI World Cup 2023.
While talking about the brilliant performance by Shreyas Iyer in the middle order for India, Rahul Dravid said, “Shreyas Iyer is the backbone of our middle order, and we all know how tough it has been for us to find a good No. 4 batter for the last 10 years. Very pleased at how we’ve played in these nine games. Very clinical from game one to today.”
Sourav Ganguly reveals Rahul Dravid’s dilemma of joining as Head Coach
A few days ago, the Indian cricket board’s former president and India’s former captain Sourav Ganguly revealed that Rahul Dravid was reluctant to join the Indian cricket team as the head coach.
“It’s a lot of time on the road. [He has a] young family, two young boys, plus he has played all his life. So, it’s not easy coaching, being on the road all the time. But he agreed, thinking about Indian cricket and I hope he will continue in the future because a coach needs to be given time. It is not magic that he will change his team in three, four, or five months. He needs to be given minimum time,” Ganguly said.
