News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Home  » Sports » There is scope to improve: Dravid

There is scope to improve: Dravid

Source: PTI
June 24, 2007 18:57 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

The comprehensive 9-wicket win in the rain-hit one-dayer against Ireland notwithstanding, Indian captain Rahul Dravid identified areas for the team to improve.

Dravid said the visitors were found wanting a bit in bowling at the death as Ireland, reduced to 111 for 6, went on to post 193 with Niall O'Brien and captain Trent Johnston adding 48 runs for the seventh wicket.

"We got wickets upfront and backed it up with good batting. But bowling at the death, we lacked a bit of experience there. Hopefully we can improve in that department as the season progresses," Dravid said after the match.

Sourav Ganguly (75 no) and Gautam Gambhir (80 n.o.) shared a 164-run stand for the unbroken second wicket as India overhauled the revised target of 171 with four overs to spare.

"Small totals can be tricky. And we did not have enough practice in the conditions going into the match. The two of them really batted well; showed good common sense," Dravid said.

He was all praise for rookie leg-spinner Piyush Chawla who picked up 3-29, his second three-wicket haul in as many ODIs.

"For a young leg-spinner, he gripped the ball very well in these conditions. He is only going to grow as he plays more matches," the skipper said.

Johnston said inexperience cost the hosts the match.

"We had enough runs on the board to be competitive. We got Sachin Tendulkar out early but after that their experience showed. Ours was an inexperienced team," he said, referring to the absence of six players from the squad that played in the World Cup.

He also said his side did not have the consistency in bowling to keep the Indian batsmen in check.

Man of the match Gambhir said he was not bothered at being asked to bat at number three.

"I have batted at that spot for my state team. So it wasn't a problem," he said.

"It was difficult to bat because the ball was not coming on to the bat. Consistency was one area I had been working on. I lacked that before," he added.
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

New Zealand's tour of India 2024

New Zealand's Tour Of India, 2024