Rahul Dravid mentioned India have been remarkably constant to play three ICC finals within the final 12 months and the outgoing head coach hoped the mixture of good cricket and luck will land his facet an elusive ICC title. India have been the vastly superior staff within the ongoing T20 World Cup, similar to they had been within the ODI World Cup at house final 12 months the place they faltered on the last hurdle in opposition to Australia. Now, Rohit and Co will face South Africa within the summit match on the Kensington Oval, hoping to win a worldwide title after their triumph within the 2013 Champions Trophy.
“It’s a good factor now we have been constantly taking part in good cricket. We have now been in finals in all three codecs and credit score goes to the gamers. If we play nicely and rub of the inexperienced goes (our manner) we’ll certainly win,” mentioned Dravid, who will probably be seeking to finish his tenure on a excessive.
When the trophy is on the road, gamers are likely to really feel extra strain than traditional.
However by way of psychological preparation, there’s not a lot India can do with only a day separating the semifinal and last.
The staff travelled to Barbados proper after the semifinal in Guyana in opposition to England, however Dravid mentioned India are mentally prepared for the match.
“When it comes to our preparation, we have simply acquired sooner or later within the center, so it is unlikely we will be having follow.”
“It is nearly all the fellows stepping into guaranteeing that bodily, mentally, tactically we’re prepared for the sport.”
Dravid underlined his facet’s preparedness for the summit match.
“These are the issues that we are able to management, that we’re recent, that we have sorted all our niggles, if there are any. We have accomplished all our tactical preparation and we’re mentally relaxed and excited and looking out ahead to the sport.”
“We’ll be trying to do this within the subsequent 24 hours and attempt to get ourselves in the suitable way of thinking to have the ability to play that sport,” mentioned the previous India captain.
In 2023, India misplaced the WTC last and ODI World Cup last to Australia. Have they taken any classes from these heartbreaking defeats? “No, nothing. I assumed we had been very well-prepared in Ahmedabad (ODI WC). We ticked all of the containers and, on that day, the opposite staff performed higher. That is a part of the game.”
“The opposite staff that is coming there to play has additionally clearly reached the ultimate as a result of they seem to be a good staff they usually’re taking part in superb cricket as nicely. So, they’ve as a lot proper to win it as we do, however we hope that we’ll play higher cricket on the day,” he mentioned.
Of their Tremendous 8 opener, India had been capable of publish 181 in opposition to Afghanistan on a pitch the place taking part in on the up was robust.
Dravid mentioned they had been seeking to carry that information into the match in opposition to South Africa.
“Yeah, I imply, simply the truth that we have performed a sport in Barbados is good. It is good that now we have that familiarity of getting performed on that floor prior to now.
“However once more, I believe it’s totally exhausting to… We’re not going to get precisely the identical wicket that we acquired final time. I imply, it may be completely different, proper? Dravid emphasised on the work the staff put as a gaggle coming into this showpiece whereas lauding their adaptive abilities.
“I believe what’s actually necessary is that we have accomplished very well as a gaggle. This entire event now we have proven the power to adapt, to acknowledge what is an effective rating. We performed very in another way in New York, then we performed in St. Lucia, then we performed even in Barbados once I thought that the sport was fairly sluggish.
“I am simply hoping that no matter we come up in opposition to, we could have the power to acknowledge it and be capable of play accordingly, as we have accomplished within the final three video games,” mentioned Dravid.
He was referring to India’s skill to publish above-par totals on tough surfaces together with within the semifinal at Guyana the place they managed to publish 171 on a floor with low bounce.
South Africa managed to interrupt the long-running semifinal jinx within the World Cup, and Dravid mentioned the Proteas won’t be carrying any baggage.
“Not likely, I imply it isn’t that the identical gamers have been taking part in since 1991 and there is so many gamers that come and go. I do not suppose that basically issues. I can not communicate for them. However I do not suppose gamers go in retaining their baggage of the previous.
Equally, Dravid mentioned the Indian gamers have the power to maneuver on from the Ahmedabad debacle final 12 months.
“Gamers are superb at shifting on from issues, recognizing issues. So, we’ll transfer on from Ahmedabad. I am certain they won’t be fascinated with historical past. It’s going to be a recent day.”
“Two good groups, two groups I believe that everybody will agree will in all probability be the highest two groups on this event. So, deserving finals for each the groups. And, hopefully, it is an amazing sport of cricket. Hopefully, we fall on the suitable facet,” added Dravid.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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