Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: MICHAEL ERREY/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)
Ahead of the fourth Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India head coach, Rahul Dravid has backed KS Bharat, despite his poor returns with the bat. The stumper-batter has scored only 57 runs from three matches so far and thus, there are talks about giving Ishan Kishan a chance in the final match of the series. However, Dravid indicated otherwise and stressed on having realistic batting benchmarks in the testing conditions.
The former cricketer also stated that the team management is not concerned with Bharat’s batting form at the moment, as he has been brilliant behind the stumps. The 50-year-old also mentioned that the Andhra star is doing his bits with the bat and the think tank should put batting performance in perspective.
“We are not (concerned) and it again comes to a question of perspective and understanding of some of the challenges and conditions that he has kept in and even though it’s not a big contribution but he got 17 in the first innings,” Dravid said as quoted by Hindustan Times when asked about Bharat’s batting form.
“Got a nice contribution in Delhi where he played positively, and you need a little bit of luck in these conditions and he hasn’t probably had that, and he is shaping really well and keeping really nicely for us. So we need to put batting performance in perspective,” the former cricketer added.
Dravid opens up on Indore pitch’s ‘poor’ rating by ICC
Pitches in India have been one of the most talked about subjects in the ongoing series against Australia. Consequently, post the third Test, the Indore pitch has faced the wrath of the ICC, as the governing body slapped three demerit points, rating the surface of the Holkar Cricket Stadium as ‘poor’.
However, Rahul Dravid refused to go into the detail and stated that its match referee’s reading and another 60-70 runs from Indian batters could have turned the tables in the third Test.
“Won’t go too much into it, that’s match referee’s reading. With WTC points at stake, you look to play on wickets that produce results. 109 were less in the first innings last game. 60-70 more could have made the difference. The Ahmedabad pitch (fourth Test) looks okay. Lot of talk around pitches. Whatever it is, we have to learn to play on them,” told Dravid during the pre-match conference,” Dravid stated.
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