Rahul Dravid opens up on World Cup workload, mental fitness and one-pointed attention

Rahul Dravid has hinted that India will not make changes when they face the Netherlands in their final league stage clash in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. The game will be contested at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, November 12.

Dravid stated that team India has had enough breaks after their penultimate game and the players are fully fit. He indirectly implied that India will come up with the same XI who have played the previous game.

"I mean, honestly, we've had six days off from the last game. So, we're pretty well rested. We've got one game before the semi-final and the guys are in good shape. That's all I'll say without giving away much," Dravid was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. 

Also Check: ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule

Dravid was asked about the possibility of a player like Prasidh Krishna getting a chance to play in the upcoming game to make him ready to play in the knockout game if needed. To which the 50-year-old responded that the management would choose the best playing XI who would be mentally and physically fit to play in a critical game.

"So now at this stage, it's about just focusing on getting the guys who you think are going to be playing in the XI in the best possible space mentally and physically, to be able to play that semi-final and, hopefully, the final if we earn it. So that will be the single-pointed thinking. There are times for larger-picture thinking and there are times for narrow-focus thinking in my opinion and now's the time for narrow-focus thinking if everyone is fit," he added.

India, captained by Rohit Sharma are having an unforgettable campaign in the ongoing ODI World Cup, having won all eight games they have played so far. The Men in Blue was the first team to advance to the semifinal of the marquee event, following a convincing 302-run against Sri Lanka at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Also Check: ODI World Cup 2023 Points Table