Team India head coach on Saturday funnily mocked the bowling action of India’s star batter Virat Kohli. During the pre-match press conference ahead of IND vs SA Cricket World Cup clash, Dravid was asked about the impact of not having a 6th bowling option with Hardik Pandya’s departure.
The Indian head coach indirectly mentioned Kohli and said that the team has a “wrong-footed inswinger menace” whom the side can back for a couple of overs.
“Yes, we don’t have the option to have a sixth proper bowler but we have a wrong-footed inswinger menace whom we can back for a couple of overs. He was close to doing so in the last game with the crowd pushing him to do so. The response of the team and the players have been really good,” Dravid said.
Watch the video here:
Notably, Hardik Pandya got ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after failing to recover from an ankle injury which he sustained during Bangladesh’s clash on October 19.
We needed a pace back-up: Rahul Dravid
The head coach was also asked about the reason behind picking pacer Prasidh Krishna as replacement for all-rounder Pandya. Dravid revealed that the team needed a backup option for pace.
“We had a backup for the spin, we had a backup for the batting, and we had a backup in the bowling all around the category. So, we did recognize that if this is a combination we’re going to take, and if there is an issue of an illness, or a small niggle, or an injury, then we need to have a backup for that [pace] as well”, Dravid said.
Dravid also opened up on Kohli missing out on equaling Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries in cricket history. Kohli had come close to the feat in IND vs SA, but got dismissed on 88. The head coach, however, revealed that Kohli has looked relaxed and his focus is not on personal milestones.
“Virat has been really relaxed and keen to do what he has been doing for India. I have seen nothing different in how Virat goes about his business, not worried about his 49th or 50th or his birthday,” he said.
