Harsha Bhogle Explained Why ODI Series Win Over WI Is So Special For Rahul Dravid: Dating back to 2007, India have now registered 12 consecutive bilateral ODI series wins against the West Indies. This is now a new ODI world record, going past Pakistan’s 11 consecutive ODI series wins over Zimbabwe between 1996 and 2021.
And, in fact, that last series loss against West Indies had come under Rahul Dravid in 2006. So in a way, it is special for the current Indian team head coach.
Also, renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle has explained why the wins in these two matches are extra satisfying for Dravid as an Indian head coach and former India A coach.
Looked at happiness of Head coach Rahul Dravid after India won the 2nd ODI match against West Indies at yesterday. pic.twitter.com/DAtwcP3nsO
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) July 25, 2022
India register another ODI series win over West Indies
Whether it was Mohammed Siraj defending 15 runs in 6 balls, and 5 runs on the last ball in the first ODI to help India clinch a 3-run win, or Axar Patel smashing 64* runs off 35 balls in a big run-chase in the second ODI when a defeat looked imminent – the youngsters have stepped up in high-pressure situations.
Harsha Bhogle took to Twitter to give great credit to Rahul Dravid, pointing out that India won the series in West Indies with a largely second-string side, where only a few players – such as Shikhar Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal – part of India’s first-choice ODI eleven.
The commentator asserted that Dravid had done a similarly outstanding job with the India A side earlier in creating a vast player pool of talented and skilled cricketers, and is now doing the same with the senior Indian side.
“These two wins will have been most reassuring for Dravid because he is doing what he did with A team cricket; creating a strong base from players just outside the current first XI of whom no more than 3-4 were in this side,” Harsha Bhogle tweeted.
Here, check out Harsha Bhogle’s tweet:
These two wins will have been most reassuring for Dravid because he is doing what he did with A team cricket; creating a strong base from players just outside the current first XI of whom no more than 3-4 were in this side
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 25, 2022
One of Dravid’s students, Shreyas Iyer, was effusive in praise of the way he has learned so much from the former India skipper. While Iyer had looked exposed against short balls on the recent England tour, he has done really well on the West Indies tour with two fifties in two matches. He had the time spent with Dravid – right from his Delhi Daredevils days to India A stint and now with the national team – to give credit.
“I have been working with him [Dravid] for many years. We talk technique and temperament on a match-to-match basis. Situations change. When we have team meetings, everyone talks. We don’t come to a conclusion but learn from each other’s views. It’s a good conversation between us. Rahul sir has been supportive throughout, he doesn’t put much pressure on the mind,” Shreyas Iyer said after the second ODI.
