In the aftermath of India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the World Cup final, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) convened a crucial meeting with head coach Rahul Dravid to dissect the team’s performance. The meeting, attended by BCCI officials including Secretary Jay Shah, Vice President Rajeev Shukla, and Treasurer Ashish Shelar, sought insights from Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, who joined via video call from London.
Despite India’s exceptional run in the tournament with ten consecutive victories, the loss to Australia in the final left a bitter taste. The officials aimed to unravel the reasons behind India’s subpar performance in the crucial summit clash on November 19.
Rahul Dravid, known for his meticulous approach, pointed to the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as a decisive factor. Dravid argued that the pitch didn’t exhibit the expected turn, a pivotal aspect of India’s game plan. The former captain highlighted this deviation from expectations as a key reason for India’s inability to assert control over Australia during the chase.
The pitch for the final was a recycled one, previously used in the league match against Pakistan. While the decision to opt for a used pitch isn’t against ICC rules, it raised questions. The slow nature of the surface and the impeccable execution by Australian bowlers added complexity to India’s innings. Dravid defended the decision, emphasizing that a similar strategy had worked effectively throughout the tournament but faltered in the final.
Initially watered less to aid spin, the pitch backfired as it slowed down significantly. India’s batting struggled, and despite a promising start by Rohit Sharma, the middle-overs stuttered. The Australian bowlers capitalized on the conditions, restricting India to 240. In response, Australia, despite losing early wickets, seized the opportunity, guided by Travis Head’s superb century.
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BCCI officials queried Dravid on the rationale behind the plan, particularly when Indian seamers, led by Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, had performed admirably. Dravid acknowledged the plan’s success throughout the tournament but conceded its failure in the final. The decision-making around the pitch strategy became a focal point of discussion.
Amidst the post-mortem of the World Cup loss, attention turned to the upcoming South Africa tour. The BCCI officials and Dravid and Rohit discussed the squad selection for ODIs, T20Is, and Tests. The tour marks a crucial juncture as India aims to bounce back and begin their journey to clinch an ICC trophy.
