New Zealand’s victory over Sri Lanka in the opening Test in Christchurch on Monday (March 13) meant that the Indian team qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.
India needed to win the fourth Test against Australia, which took place in Ahmedabad, to reach the WTC final. Since the match was heading towards a draw, the result of the New Zealand-Sri Lanka Test series became crucial for the Rohit Sharma-led side.
As it eventually turned out, the Ahmedabad Test ended in a draw. Hours before this outcome, New Zealand cleared the road for Team India through to the WTC final with a thrilling two-wicket victory against Sri Lanka on the last ball of Day 5 at the Hagley Oval.
After the culmination of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, head coach Rahul Dravid admitted that the Indian players and team management had an eye on the New Zealand-Sri Lanka match.
“We followed it over four or five overs. We followed it in bits and pieces,” Dravid told Star Sports on Monday.
India will face Australia in the WTC final, scheduled to be held at The Oval in London from June 7-11. It’ll mark the team’s second consecutive appearance in the WTC final.
“It’s not easy to produce results home and away. To get the chance to play in the Oval again, it is a great thing to put the performances and play the final again,” Dravid lauded his team.
When Dinesh Karthik enquired what their thoughts were around the final, Dravid replied: “Karthik, we just qualified at Lunch time today, I didn’t count my chickens before they hatched. Obviously, we have the three One Day matches, we will play. It is going to be a challenge. There are logistics. There is the IPL and the WTC final as well. It is a big game, the boys are excited and keen on it too. We will think about it and plan forward.”
After winning the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi, India suffered a nine-wicket defeat in the third Test in Indore. The hosts were under pressure heading into the final Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
“It was really a hard fought series,” said Dravid. “We were put in extreme pressure at times. When we needed someone to put an impactful performance we found them. Rohit notched up a century in the first Test, Virat Kohli put up a 180 runs knock when needed. Be it Akshar, Ashwin, Jadeja and if I miss any names, I think we have put up a good fight.”
“Australia putting up 480 in this match, we needed someone to step up and respond to them. It has been a heartening thing for me as a coach. Australia are the no.1 team in the Test. To be able to fight against them and step up when required it has been a great thing.”
Dravid had special praise reserved for Shubman Gill, who slammed his maiden Test ton at home in the fourth Test.
“It has been some exciting 4-5 months for Shubman,” said Dravid. “Scoring a hundred in the white ball format, scoring a double hundred, and century here. Coming up and maturing, taking on the responsibility, putting up the performances that is in demand. Works hard for his skills, great opportunity for him to learn from Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, to watch Steve Smith bat in the opposition. Lovely kid, a good thing for him to learn and grow."
