Ind vs WI ODI: Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, has supported the decision to experiment extensively with the team’s lineup during the two one-day internationals played in the Caribbean tour. In one of the matches, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma didn’t play, and West Indies won comfortably. Despite the mixed results, Dravid is not too concerned about the series outcome. He believes that giving playing time to some players is more important than winning individual matches or the series. The main goal is to prepare the team for upcoming tournaments like the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
Dravid stated that this series was the last opportunity to try out some players. Since some players were injured and time was running out before the Asia Cup, they had to give chances to others. The coach emphasized that experimenting with different players was necessary to make informed decisions for the team.
In the first two matches, Ishan Kishan opened the batting with Shubman Gill, and Kishan performed well with consecutive half-centuries. The experiments also extended to the middle order, with different players being tried at No. 3 and 4 positions.
Dravid stressed that they were looking at the bigger picture and not just focusing on individual games. With important tournaments coming up and some players dealing with injuries, the priority was to build a strong team for the future.
Regarding Suryakumar Yadav’s performances in ODIs, Dravid acknowledged his talent but pointed out that he is still learning to adapt his game in this format. The coach expressed confidence in giving players like Yadav enough opportunities to prove themselves.
Dravid also praised Ishan Kishan for making good use of the chances he has received in ODIs, and he believes in giving young players ample opportunities to showcase their talent.
Overall, the focus of the team management is on building a strong and competitive squad for important tournaments ahead, which requires trying out different players and positions to find the right combinations.
