BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS): It isn’t simple being both India or South Africa on the eve of a giant ultimate. Whereas South Africa don’t have anything to indicate of their ICC trophy cupboard however for a ICC Knockout Trophy in 1998 that almost all have forgotten, India’s current woes on the crunch are properly documented.However Rahul Dravid, who performed in opposition to the nice South African facet of the 1990s and was part of Indian groups that misplaced huge finals each as captain and coach, feels there will probably be no strain of the previous bothering the perimeters.
“I do not assume groups carry the luggage of the previous and know to maneuver on from issues. As we moved on from our defeat in Ahmedabad (in opposition to Australia in 2023), I’m certain they’ve moved on from historical past as properly. As gamers we perceive that the opposite group that reaches the ultimate is there for a motive and it has as a lot proper to win as we have now. As for Saturday, we’ll play our greatest cricket and hope the outcome falls on our facet,” Dravid stated simply after India had notched up a superb semifinal win in opposition to England.
As a lot as Dravid tries to brush it off, the discussions round India’s loss within the World Take a look at Championship ultimate and the ODI World Cup ultimate preserve cropping up. Requested whether or not India will handle to cross the road this time, Dravid smiled.
“I hope we do. It is good that we have now been constant. Final 12 months we have now been No. 1 in all three codecs and confirmed numerous consistency. If we play properly and the rub of the inexperienced stays with us, we ought to be there.”
There’s additionally a component of psychological preparation and coping with the bodily fatigue of match-flight-game schedule. If there are any areas to work on, there is no time, a minimum of on the nets, as a result of Friday was all about restoration.
“When it comes to preparation, there will probably be no apply forward of the ultimate. It’s about making certain that bodily, mentally and tactically we keep recent and prepared. Being in the correct way of thinking is equally vital as anything,” Dravid stated.
India in all probability have a slight benefit going into the ultimate as a result of they’ve performed a recreation in Barbados (in opposition to Afghanistan within the Tremendous 8s). Extra importantly, they’d two gruelling apply periods which allowed them to know what they need to count on from the pitch.
“It is good that we performed in Barbados earlier than however that does not essentially imply that the pitch would be the similar. What we have now performed very well as a gaggle is adapting and recognizing what to do. We performed very otherwise in St. Lucia to the best way we performed in Guyana, the place we found out something greater than 150 ought to be good. Be ready and do what must be performed,” Dravid stated, retaining it matter of reality.
