'In shortest format, you need luck' – Rahul Dravid 

Rahul Dravid | PC: Twitter

South Africa finished the T20I series on a high with a comprehensive 49 runs victory over India in the third and final T20I at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Tuesday. 

However, team India clinched the T20I series 2-1 as the Men in Blue had won the first T20Is in Thiruvananthapuram by eight wickets and the second game in Guwahati by 16 runs.

In the third T20I, the India bowling attack churned out an underwhelming performance with almost all their bowlers being taken to the cleaners by Proteas batters. 

Rilee Rossouw's century propelled South Africa to the mammoth total of 227 runs for the loss of three wickets while batting first. In reply, Team India bundled out for 173 in 18.3 overs.

Meanwhile, India head coach Rahul Dravid said he was pleased with how things panned out for the team in the series against Australia and now South Africa. 

Further emphasizing the luck factor, especially in the shortest format of the game, Dravid said one needs to have it to win the close games. He also added how luck wasn't in their favor in the Asia Cup 2022 and they had a bit of it against Australia earlier this month. 

Speaking at the post-match conference in Indore, here's what head coach Rahul Dravid said:

"Good to get the right results in both series. In this format, you need luck, and things to go your way, especially in close games. We didn't have that in the Asia Cup but had some luck in Australia. We were able to rotate the squad a bit, pleased with how it's gone overall." 

The former India opener also opened up on the discussion he had with the team after the T20 World Cup 2021 on how they all decided to adopt an aggressive approach and bat more positively in the quickest format of the game, where the margin of error is very less.  

"We’ve made a decision after the last T20 WC where we sat down as a group and decided to play more positively. We believe we have the quality as a group to play more aggressively, we’ve been able to do that without being bowled out too often."   

Weighing in on their premier pacer Bumrah's injury, the head coach said that his unavailability is a big blow to the team but at the same time it offers an opportunity for someone else to rise to the occasion and fill his shoes. 

"Bumrah's absence is a big loss, he's been a great player but it happens, it's an opportunity for someone else to stand up. We'll miss him, his personality around the group." 

Shikhar Dhawan-led team India will now take on South Africa in the three-match ODI series, starting Thursday, October 6 in Lucknow. The T20 World Cup-bound players will not be part of the 50-Over matches as they are set to travel to Australia on October 7. 

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