CWC 2023: “We are pretty well rested,” Rahul Dravid hints India won’t make any changes to playing XI for Netherlands game

India will face Netherlands in their last league fixture in Bangalore on November 12.

Indian cricket team | GettyIndia’s performance in the ongoing World Cup has been phenomenal, to say the least. The Rohit Sharma-led side has won eight matches comprehensively so far against Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, England and South Africa.

Having qualified for the semi-final, the Men in Blue will face Netherlands in their last league fixture in Bangalore on November 12.

Ahead of the game, head coach Rahul Dravid has hinted that they won’t make any changes to their playing XI against Netherlands.

"We have had six days off since the last game. We are pretty well rested. The guys are in good shape. We have six days off and just one game before the semi-final, boys are rested, so... that is all I will say," Dravid said in the pre-match press conference.

"We are at the point end of the tournament now. Right now it is about focusing on the guys who you think will be in the playing XI. That is the best possible place mentally and physically ahead of the semi-final and hopefully the final if we earn it," he added.

Dravid was specifically asked about the inclusion of Prasidh Krishna in the XI to get the bowler 'match ready' in case India are forced to make a last-minute change.

To which, the coach replied: "There are times of larger focus thinking and there are times for narrow focused thinking and now is the time for narrow focus thinking if everyone is fit."

As per the current calculations, India will most certainly face New Zealand in the World Cup 2023 semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15 as Pakistan have an improbable task at hand in their last league match against England to surpass the net run rate of the Kiwis.

(India Today Inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 11 Nov, 2023

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