The Value of the ODI Series vs. Australia, by Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid, the head coach of Team India, believes that the three-match ODI series against Australia, which served as a warm-up for the ODI World Cup 2023, was played with a lot of energy. India was able to win the series 2-1, however the absence of senior starters Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya in the first two games put the team’s depth to the test.

Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Ravichandran Ashwin, according to head coach Dravid, need to participate in certain games. The Men in Blue benefited from it as Shreyas got a century and Ashwin took important wickets while under fire. In ODIs, Suryakumar Yada also succeeded in finding his groove.

“Game time was incredibly vital for players like Jassi [Jasprit Bumrah], Shreyas, KL, and Ashwin, too. We are much better off for it because they were able to do it against a very talented, competitive side, Dravid remarked in the post-game news conference.

Dravid said that while warm-up games won’t be able to provide the same level of intensity, the series was crucial for evaluating players before the World Cup.

“In the warm-up games, players match up 15 against 15. Obtaining that level of intensity in such sports might be challenging at times. There was a lot of tension in these three games, which took place in fairly warm weather, Dravid said.

The head coach also mentioned Bumrah bowling his whole allotted number of overs and Siraj bowling after getting over a virus.

“It’s excellent that Jassi [Bumrah] was able to participate in a few games and complete his required 10 overs of bowling. Despite [Mohammed] Siraj being a touch under the weather, he returned and was able to bowl today (Wednesday). The manner [Ravichandran] Ashwin bowled in the first two games was absolutely amazing, he observed.

The Indian middle order is much stronger now that KL and Iyer are back, as they seem to be well-adjusted ahead of the World Cup, which was not the case a few months ago.

“KL, too, is returning after approximately six to seven months. Additionally, Shreyas had a few pretty strong hits in the previous two games. Lots of checkmarks in that regard. As we approach the World Cup, perhaps we can maintain this momentum, the head coach continued.