Former India captain Rahul Dravid has described co-hosts New Zealand as “serious contenders” for the upcoming cricket World Cup starting February 14. “I think they've got a really good pace attack. That's why you look at them and you think these guys are one of the serious contenders,” Dravid said on 'Contenders', a special World Cup build-up show on 'ESPNcricinfo'. From being perennial dark horses New Zealand are being described as among the favourites and Dravid believes that the home pressure will not weigh too much on the Black Caps.
“I think with New Zealand it's a much smaller country, sure they'll expect their team to do well but you're not going to talk about winning straightaway. I think the pressure is going to be less on the New Zealand players,” said the cricketer-turned-analyst. Always a keen student of the game, Dravid realises the importance of leadership in cricket and feels that Brendon McCullum has the quality to inspire the Black Caps. “Under pressure when you need someone to make that key tactical change, that key intervention that can actually turn the game, you'd back him (Brendon McCullum) to do it because he's been in that position before, he's been someone who has experienced it all,” said Dravid.
Riding on top-order batsman Kane Williamson's belligerent run-making in the ongoing series against Sri lanka, New Zealand have shown their 'might' and Dravid is all praise for the No.3 batsman's rise. “He's really creative, he's got some really good shots. Because he can score quickly without actually looking like he's taking risks, he's actually a good classical batsman who is able to find the gaps, hit good cricketing shots, he's got good consistency as well,” said Dravid, who once personified the No.3 position.
The bowling, led by Tim Southee, also has the potentialto match the best of the best and Dravid is impressed with the pace spearhead's wicket-taking ways. “Good control of the yorker under pressure. I think that's one of the things about Tim Southee. That's a critical ball to be able to bowl at the back end and we all know that that's the obvious thing but it's an extremely hard ball to execute under pressure,” he said.
Commenting on Daniel Vettori's invaluable presence in the team, Dravid, who had played a fair bit of cricket against the left-handed all-rounder, said that nothing can replace experience. “Whether he can stay fit through the tournament and how they'll have to nurse him through the tournament will be interesting to see but there is no doubt that he brings quality and he brings experience to the table, which you cannot buy at a supermarket,” Dravid concluded.
India should hope that wickets remain slow: dravid
Mumbai: Former India captain Rahul Dravid today said that the upcoming World Cup is going to be a challenge for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team, which should hope for the Australian and New Zealand wickets to remain slow and supportive of spin.
“It's going to be a challenge, it is not easy. You are playing in very different conditions,” Dravid told reporters here. It was a bit “strange” to see that most of the Australian wickets were slow during the recently-concluded Test series and Dravid hopes the pitches behave n the same manner to assist India's most potent weapon, spin.
“That's the advantage India has, if the wickets stay slower and lower as we have seen in the Test matches, then the spinners will come into the mix and India can afford to play two and even three spinners,” he said. However, he also pointed out that the slow track at Adelaide was much different from the fast one in Brisbane. Dravid expressed confidence that the Indian team has the right combination to reach the quarter-finals. After that it would be only about “three good days” of performance, he said.
He cautioned that hosts Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Sri lanka and Pakistan have 60-70 per cent chance to lift the cup. “It is going to be whom handles pressure better and who handles the must-win games better.
India will make to the quarter final, and I think they have got the players to do it,” he said, adding that by quarter finals, the team should get their act together and the entire playing 11 should be in top form. Dravid, who had a formidable reputation as a number three, said he would like Virat Kohli to walk onto the field after 10-12 overs which would allow him time to settle in for a big knock.
As far as the opening pair was concerned, he said it is unfortunate that Rohit Sharma is down with injury, but his comeback will help things a lot, while Shikhar Dhawan, who has had a few bad games recently, should be given necessary time to perform. He acknowledged that the bowling has been lacklustre in the recent past, but pointed out that the return of Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja was a positive development.
“I am not overly worried about form right now. We had a few issues with injuries with couple of batsmen and bowlers getting injured, it's been hard for them, but I am not overly concerned,” Dravid said. Stressing the importance of team work, he said one celebrated player like Dhoni or his deputy Kohli cannot win the World Cup alone. At least six players will have to hit their best forms, he concluded.