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'Schedules Are So Tight...,'Rahul Dravid Makes A Big Statement After Humiliating Loss In WTC Final

image-lirfmrn7Rahul Dravid with Ajinkya Rahane ( Source: Twitter) 

India's head coach, Rahul Dravid, conceded that their bowling performance on the first day of the match fell below expectations. With a total of 469 runs conceded, it was evident that this was well beyond what the Oval pitch typically allows. 

Notably, India initially had Australia struggling at 76/3 after opting to bowl first. However, their bowlers failed to maintain a consistent line and length, allowing Steve Smith and Travis Head to launch a counterattack.

It was the brilliant centuries of the Australian duo that propelled Australia to a commanding total of 469 runs in the first inning. Dravid also acknowledged that the lines and lengths delivered to Travis Head by their bowlers offered him ample opportunities to play his shots. 

Here’s what Rahul Dravid said: 

“It was not a 469 run wicket. I feel the runs we have leaked to the lower middle order, that is a thing. We knew what line and length we had to bowl, we didn't bowl the right line. We gave away room to Travis Head who capitalized. I feel, in that stage, we went behind. Maybe, in the second innings, we could have been careful while playing a few shots.” 

“Being at 76-3, we thought we were in a good spot. I think we would have been in the game if 300 would have been the score needed.”  

Rahul Dravid further emphasized that the team's limited practice before the marquee event as a contributing factor in the team’s final performance. Here, it is worth noting that the majority of players who took part in the WTC final had been actively participating in the IPL just weeks before the event in England.

“I am never gonna be happy with the prep as a coach. The schedules are so tight and so much, you need to be better prepared due to the packed schedule. No complaints, I wanna congratulate Australia for the cricket they have played. No excuses, no complaints, but they were the better side on this day.”