Need to look at big picture ahead of WC: Coach Dravid on resting Rohit, Virat
BRIDGETOWN: India head coach Rahul Dravid said that the team was “not worried about every single game and single series” and will have to try out other players ahead of the World Cup, as he defended his decision to rest Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the second ODI against West Indies.
The Indian team management’s decision to rest regular skipper Rohit and star batter Virat Kohli badly backfired as the visitor was bowled out for 181 in 40.5 overs. The home team chased down the target with 80 balls to spare for an easy six-wicket victory to level the three-match ODI series 1-1.
“We will always look at the bigger picture. At this stage in the cycle, the Asia Cup and World Cup coming up we have to look at the bigger picture because of some of the injuries we have. We can’t worry about every single game, every single series, if we do that it will be a mistake,” Dravid said after the match.
“To give people chances, Virat and Rohit sat out. We have to take those risks, we might have to take those chances in situations like that looking at big events. We want to give them
Honestly, this was our last chance to try out some of our players. We have got a few of our players injured who are in NCA. With a month to go until Asia Cup, we are running out of time — Rahul Dravid on resting Rohit and Virat
(young players) as many chances as we possibly can.”
Dravid said with some players injured and recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, it was imperative for the management to give chances to other team members ahead of the Asia Cup (August 30-September 17) and the World Cup (October-November).
“Honestly, this was our last chance to try out some of our players. We have got a few of our players injured who are in NCA. With a month to go until Asia Cup, we are running out of time. We are hopeful that some of them (injured players) will be fit for Asia Cup and World Cup, but we can’t take those chances.”
The former India batting stalwart said the move to rest Rohit and Kohli was to create enough bench strength which can be used in necessity.
“We just felt that in a series like this with two, three matches to go for the Asia Cup, playing Virat and Rohit would not have given us too many answers,” said Dravid.
Dravid feels Suryakumar Yadav must be disappointed with his performances in ODI cricket, given the standard he has set in T20 format.
“Surya is a really good player there is no doubt about it, his performances have shown that in T20 cricket and even in domestic cricket in white ball. He would be the first one to admit his ODI numbers probably haven’t been up to his high standards or the standard that he has set in T20.
“He is learning about ODI cricket. He is learning how to bat through the middle overs. He is a talent, a really good player so we want to give as many opportunities as we can. It’s really up to him now to take those opportunities,” he said.