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Rahul Dravid believes series defeat against Australia will help Team India do well at World Cup

Former India captain and coach of India U-19 team, Rahul Dravid, has sounded a warning for the Indian Men's National Team following their shocking 3-2 defeat against Australia in the recently concluded ODI series at home.

Rahul Dravid believes series defeat against Australia will help Team India play World Cup better

Mumbai, March 20: Former India captain and coach of India U-19 team, Rahul Dravid, has sounded a warning for the Indian Men's National Team following their shocking 3-2 defeat against Australia in the recently concluded ODI series at home.

A high-flying Virat Kohli-led Indian side were subjected to a stunning defeat by a spirited Australian side that came as a major setback to them going into the upcoming World Cup as one of the favourites.

"I think there was a bit of notion that we are going walk there and win the World Cup easily. So its a good thing that has happened. What it has (the outcome against Australia) reminded us is that we have to play the World Cup very, very well," said Dravid.

The Karnataka stalwart was speaking at the launch of ESPNCricinfos new metrics, Superstats, along with his former India teammate Sanjay Manjrekar in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"In a way I think its a good balancing factor. India has performed well in the last couple of years. There was a little bit of talk that we are almost going to walk in there and win the World Cup very easily because we are the No. 1 team and we have been dominating one-day cricket for the last couple of years," he added further.

"But I dont find anything strange from my perspective watching the series. I still feel that we are going to be one of the favourites. But its going to be tough. Its going to be competitive," the cricket stalwart insisted.

India led 2-0 in the five-match series but lost the last three to the reigning World Cup champions to lose an ODI series after 2015. These games are the last of the 50-over competition for India going into the World Cup commencing on May 30 in England.

Both Dravid and Manjrekar also answered queries on the much-talked-about workload factor in the IPL starting on March 23 for some key Indian players, who are expected to make the World Cup squad, such as Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.

All-rounder Pandya is coming off a lower back injury layoff that forced him to miss matches in Australia as well as the home series against the same opponents at home.

"Most players are smart about these things. They know how to handle their body. I don't think the players would put their body on the line. I was reading Patrick Cummins (Australia pacer) saying that he feels better bowling when he is constantly playing rather than having rested and coming back," Dravid said.

"So to each player, its different. There cannot be a blanket case that all should be rested. We have to just trust the players. They know what needs to be done," he opined.

Manjrekar was even more forthright and said the BCCI should not put pressure on IPL franchises to rest some players in view of the following World Cup.

"My views won't be appreciated. This is free enterprise. IPL is capitalism at its best. I don't think there should be any outside interference. It should be up to the franchises. Don't think there should be pressure (on IPL franchises) from the Cricket Board (BCCI) (to rest some players)," the former Test batsman turned TV commentator remarked.

Both also talked about the numbers game in cricket. While welcoming the new parameters launched by the cricket website which he felt would be of some help to coaches, Dravid said "numbers are not everything but at the same time you cannot ignore numbers". "Numbers can't quantify whether someone is not feeling up for it on that particular day. There's a mix of both," is how he put it.

While talking about the luck factor in cricket Dravid, said, "Luck played a huge role in my career in 2009. I was on the verge of being dropped and was given an extra opportunity in Mohali against England. I was batting at number 3 and Stuart Broad bounces me. It was a top edge and as soon as I hit it, I was 'oh god, I'm out again'. It just falls (short) of Matt Prior and the fine-leg fielder running in. I get a hundred in that game and go on to have a couple of good years, including three hundreds in England".

Commenting on Smart Stats, adding the most important thing going forward, he said, "The critical thing for me is the people who are going to make the best use of these numbers- how you read those numbers, what you get out of these numbers is the key."

Story first published: Wednesday, March 20, 2019, 17:37 [IST]
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