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Edgbaston Test: India coach Rahul Dravid explains why Team India lost to England despite posting 377

Reflecting upon his team's performance in the one-off Test against England in 2022, the former India captain, Dravid claimed batting let Team India down in the game.

Edgbaston Test: India coach Rahul Dravid explains why Team India lost to England despite posting 377

Birmingham, July 5: England batters made a mockery of the much-vaunted Indian bowling attack as they registered an emphatic 7-wicket win in the fifth and final Test in Edgbaston on Monday (July 5). Once again showing an aggressive intent from the word go in the fourth innings, English batters made the record run chase of 378 look ridiculously easy.

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow - two of England's in-form Test batters - slammed match-winning unbeaten centuries in the fourth innings as the hosts cruised home inside 77 overs. Their unbeaten 269-run partnership stole the show and put everyone in awe.

It was another major disappointment for India's head coach Rahul Dravid as the team under his watch suffered the third successive overseas Test defeat in seven months.

Reflecting upon his team's performance in the one-off Test, the former India captain, Dravid claimed batting let the team down in the game. Despite going at 125 for 3 at stumps on day three, the Indians were folded for a paltry 245 in the second innings on Day 4.

'Batting let us down'

'Batting let us down'

Dravid at the presser after the conclusion of the match inside the first session on Day 5, "I would say that we controlled the game on three days but maybe, we did not bat that well in the second innings, and in our bowling, we were not able to sustain that intensity and we must give credit to England for the way they played. Root and Bairstow formed a brilliant partnership, we got 2-3 chances but were not able to capitalise. But you need to applaud the opponent."

Bowlers' failure to pick up 20 wickets

Bowlers' failure to pick up 20 wickets

Dravid also pointed out that the failure of Indian bowlers' for being unable to pick up 20 wickets in the match hurt them badly. Indians lost two matches on the bounce in South Africa as their bowlers - who have been the best in the world in the last few years - failed to dismiss Protea batters in the fourth innings.

"Obviously, it has been disappointing for us. We had a couple of opportunities in South Africa as well, here as well, I just think it is something we need to look that and need to work upon. We have been very good at that in the last couple of years in terms of taking those 20 wickets and winning those Test matches but we have not been able to do that in the last couple of months. It could be a variety of factors, it could be just maybe we need to maintain that intensity and maintain that level of fitness or performance right through the Test match," the legendary India batter added.

India's batting in second innings, a concern

India's batting in second innings, a concern

Dravid lamented the fact that India's batting in the second innings has been up to the mark overseas.

Dravid added, "We have not batted well as well, but if you look at all the second innings of Test matches overseas this year, the batting has probably been not up to the scratch as well so in both areas, we have started the Test well but have not been able to finish well and yeah, we need to get better with that and certainly improve."

Focus on upcoming home Test series

Focus on upcoming home Test series

Talking about his future plans as India coach, Dravid said, "The way cricket is going, you do not get time to reflect (laughs). After two days, I will be talking about something else but we will look at it. In every game, you learn and you need to learn. We need to look at why we were not able to bat well in the third innings and then were not able to take wickets in the fourth innings. We need to look at what we can do. After this, the next Test matches are in the sub-continent for this cycle. We will look at this Test as coaches and selectors, we review after every game."

On England's performance

On England's performance

Talking about England, Dravid said, "Look, I think England played really well. I must admit I did not get to watch much of the England-New Zealand series, we saw parts of it when we were doing our planning and preparation. But, they played well, to chase down the kind of totals they have in all those four Test matches, has been exceptional. They have a couple of batters who are probably in the best form of their lives, they are playing exceptional cricket. I think they are playing really good cricket at the moment, hats off to them."

"I do not know what Baz Ball is, but the way they have played their cricket, it has been really good. There are not many chases that happen successfully in England, so credit must be given to them. When your players are doing well, you can play positively and you can take the game forward. This was shown by us as well in the first innings when Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were batting well. It is good for cricket and obviously, it is good for England as well," he added.

Story first published: Tuesday, July 5, 2022, 19:53 [IST]
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