Rahul Dravid is happy with India's World Cup preparation despite recent loss in Rajkot

India’s Head Coach, Rahul Dravid, expressed his satisfaction with India’s preparation for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, following their series victory against Australia, despite a loss in a Rajkot dead rubber. Dravid highlighted the significance of players like Jasprit, Ashwin, Shreyas, and KL Rahul getting valuable game time, especially against a competitive side like Australia. He noted that practice games, typically involving 15 players on each side, don’t quite replicate the intensity of actual matches.

Jasprit Bumrah had the opportunity to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in a couple of games, while Mohammed Siraj recovered from an illness and managed to bowl in the last match. Dravid praised Ashwin’s performance in the initial two games and commended KL Rahul’s keeping skills during the full 50 overs, considering he was returning after a six-month hiatus. Shreyas Iyer’s impressive batting performances in the last few matches also earned praise from Dravid.

Read More: ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule

Dravid expressed his contentment with the players returning from injuries and breaks, emphasizing that although there are always areas for improvement, they’ve made significant progress. Recognizing the challenges of the upcoming World Cup, Dravid highlighted the team’s commitment to continuous improvement, even when they are achieving favourable results.

Regarding the squad’s assembly for warm-up fixtures against England, Dravid mentioned some viral fever issues within the group and logistical challenges. He expected the entire squad to gather in Guwahati by the 28th night or 29th morning and hoped that the bug affecting some players would have cleared up by then.