'If you dwell on some of those numbers, you might get some answers'- Rahul Dravid on Axar Patel's usage in third T20I

South Africa ended the T20I series on a high after subjecting India to a damaging defeat in the series finale on Tuesday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. The much-changed Indian team opted in favor of bowling a heavy starting eleven and ended up allowing the in-form spinner just one over in the contest. When the Indian head coach Rahul Dravid was asked about the logic behind the move, the former Indian skipper shut out the journalist with a brutally honest response.

The Proteas utilized the short boundaries in Indore to full effect, setting up a massive total of 227 runs on the board. Rilee Rossouw registered a sensational ton to pile on the misery against the Indian bowlers, who leaked runs at an alarming rate. Axar Patel, who was the player of the series against Australia, conceded 13 runs in his first over and did not bowl again in the match.

When asked about the reasoning behind the decision to not bowl out Axar Patel's overs, Rahul Dravid stated that since the South African team boasts of some explosive left-handed batters, the left-arm spinner was held back in the match. He highlighted the importance of match-ups in a contest, shutting out the journalist in the post-match presser.

"Match-ups are important, they are important to us. Whether they are more important or not, it's for you guys to dig deep and look at what stats tell you about match-ups, about numbers of left-hand batsmen against left-arm spin. Maybe you might get some answers to that," Rahul Dravid said, responding to the scribe who asked about India's reliance on match-ups, after the loss on Tuesday.

I would really request you to maybe look at some of those numbers, deeply, as deeply as we do: Rahul Dravid

He further went on to state that several teams emphasize match-ups and take an in-depth look at the numbers and stats before any fixture. Dravid requested the journalist to take a look at those numbers as closely as the management does to get the answers.

"A lot of teams use match-ups, not only us. Like us, a lot of other teams look and delve into stats, into numbers. I think if you dwell on some of those numbers, you might get some answers. I would really request you to maybe look at some of those numbers, deeply, as deeply as we do," Dravid added.