Rahul Dravid Expresses Gratitude to New Zealand for Assisting Their World Test Championship Qualification
Former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid, who is the current head coach of the Indian cricket team, recently shared his thoughts on the nail-biting test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka that decided India’s fate in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023.
As India played Australia in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad, fans across the country were also following the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match closely. Sri Lanka needed a win to keep their chances of qualifying for the WTC finals alive, while New Zealand had already secured their spot.
Despite Sri Lanka’s best efforts, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson played a match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 121 to guide his team to a thrilling two-wicket win on the last ball of the match. Williamson’s effort crushed Sri Lanka’s hopes of making it to the WTC finals, and the summit clash will now be played between India and Australia at the Oval in June.
Dravid’s thoughts on the match
When asked about India’s reaction to the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match, Dravid revealed that the Indian dressing room was stressed during the chase. The coach shared that they were hoping Sri Lanka would not win, and the team was grateful to New Zealand for giving them a little support.
Dravid also explained that the team had been aware of the WTC qualification scenario and had planned to win all the Test matches they played. However, after seeing the wicket in Ahmedabad and the way Australia batted in the first two days, the Indian team became dependent on the outcome of the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match.
Dravid expressed his gratitude to New Zealand for their courageous approach in the match and for targeting a win rather than playing for a draw. He also shared that they were watching the final five to six overs of the match during lunchtime and found it really exciting.
Dravid’s comments on the WTC
Dravid also spoke about the nature of the WTC, which is a two-year long event, and how teams will be dependent on others in such competitions. He acknowledged that while all teams will put in their best effort, they will also be dependent on others to some extent.
Overall, Dravid’s comments suggest that the Indian cricket team is grateful to New Zealand for helping them qualify for the WTC finals. While the team had planned to win all their Test matches, they became dependent on the outcome of the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match. Dravid’s comments also highlight the excitement and stress that the Indian dressing room experienced during the nail-biting finish of the match.
