IND Vs NZ: Rahul Dravid Issues Massive Warning To New Zealand

Team India’s head coach Rahul Dravid expressed unwavering confidence in the team’s “vibe and energy” ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final clash against New Zealand on Wednesday. The fixture carries an additional significance as it provides the Men In Blue with an opportunity to avenge their heart-wrenching loss to the Kiwis in the semi-final encounter in the 2019 World Cup.

Rahul Dravid acknowledged the pressure of the highly awaited semi-final, stating, “I think we will be inauthentic if we say ‘it’s just another game.’ Yes, of course, it’s the semi-final, but I think our processes and what we have done in each and every game is not going to change.”

Reflecting on the stakes associated with such a crucial match, Rahul Dravid highlighted the team’s resilience, saying, “There is going to be a certain amount of pressure, but I think the way we have responded to the pressure so far gives us a lot of belief and a lot of confidence. I am confident of the vibe and energy in the group.”

Recalling the 2019 defeat against New Zealand in the semi-finals, the head coach emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences. “When it’s going well, it looks good. One loss and everyone says ‘you don’t know anything,'” Dravid mentioned, referring to the unpredictable nature of cricket.

Rahul Dravid Praises India’s Batting Prowess

Turning his attention to India’s batting prowess, Dravid commended the middle-order’s spectacular performances, particularly talking about Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja. “Our middle order has been fantastic,” he remarked. With the top-order stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma leading the tournament’s batting charts, Dravid expressed his confidence in the team’s collective experience.

As the Indian Team readies itself for the semi-final showdown, Rahul Dravid emphasized the importance of maintaining form and drawing from recent successes. “For them to be batting the way they are, whether it’s been Shreyas, whether it’s been KL, and even Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), even Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) just gives us that confidence that we have got that experience,” Dravid added.

Virat Kohli is reading the run charts with 594 runs in the tournament. He needs only 80 runs in order to beat Sachin Tendulkar’s record of scoring the maximum number of runs in one World Cup edition. India will face New Zealand on Wednesday in an all-important semi-final battle between the two teams. The winner will book their place in the finals. It will be interesting to see if India can avenge their loss from the 2019 World Cup or New Zealand manages to reach their third consecutive World Cup final.