Rahul Dravid has come out in support of the beleaguered India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan. “He’s earned the right for people to be patient with him in limited-overs cricket. His performance in the last one half years has been very good..
“He deserves the chance; he’s has been selected for what he’s done in the last one and years. He needs a few more runs, but he should not be judged on the basis of a few matches. All of us should back him.
“By the business end of the tournament, if he is in form, he will be your most valuable player. May be playing a different kind of opposition, he will get back into form’’ said Dravid at promotional event here on Wednesday.
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The former India captain, who had played three World Cups between 1999 and 2007, also said that he would like to see Virat Kohli bat at No.3 only if the openers had seen through 10 or 12 overs.
“If they feel they are not sure of their batting depth, they may send someone else. If the openers are done with 10 or 12 overs, he (Kohli) can bat at No. 3.’’
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Contractual obligations compelled V.V.S. Laxman to step aside and allow Dravid field all questions related to the World Cup. Making a general comment on the Indian team, Laxman said: “It’s a good team. They have always been a good ODI team holding the No. 1 or 2 ranking. It’s a question of getting the balance right and also making the adjustments in Australian conditions and while facing two new balls.
“By the time a team reaches the quarterfinals, it will have a set balance and combination. And once you are in the quarterfinals, the set combination will be able to take pressure and able to deliver.”
Like most observers, Dravid felt that the Indian batting is experienced, but the bowling has not been as good. “But with Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja regaining fitness, they will be very useful.
“I think India has the bowlers who have the ability to swing the ball. There are no all-rounder shortcomings with the likes of Jadeja, Axar Patel and Stuart Binny who can bat and bowl.’’
Big challengeTalking further about India’s chances, he said: “It’s going to be challenging. We have match winners who can do it. I believe India will make it to the quarterfinals; after that, it’s a question of playing three good games. If you look at the squad, one would believe that they have the players to play three good games.
“Having said that there four or five other teams who have the potential to play three good games from the quarterfinal. It’s going to be an open World Cup. From the quarterfinal, form would be thrown out of the window; it’s going to be a matter of who handles pressure better in the knock-out games. It’s a young Indian team, many of them would be playing the World Cup for the first time. Australia is a great place to play cricket’’
Responding on the quality of wickets in Australia, he said “It looked very strange to me the wickets on which India played four Tests this time as compared to the one in 2011. I was there at Adelaide. One could see lack of pace and bounce and there was some turn at Brisbane as well.
I think it will vary. We have to factor playing in New Zealand as well. I don’t think any team can go into the World Cup believing that it will behave in a particular way. One will have to play it by ear. If the wickets stay slower and lower, the Indian spinners will come into the mix.’’