Recording a first-ever Test series win in South Africa may be a realistic target for India in the upcoming rubber but head coach Rahul Dravid said that he prefers to expect his team to compete and keep up their intensity throughout the three matches rather than worry about the result. The series in South Africa is Dravid’s first in Test cricket as head coach of a senior international team.
“The results will look after themselves, I don’t really try to focus on them or worry about winning or losing the series, sometimes a lot of that is not in your control. But certainly, the preparation, the intensity and competitiveness that you can bring on to the field, that grit and determination… if we can show them throughout the series, that’s all I can ask for,” said Dravid.
The 48-year-old admitted that it won’t be easy facing South Africa despite the fact that the latter have lost a significant part of the team that beat India the last time they visited the country. Batters Faf du Plessis, who was captain of the team, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers and fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander were part of the team that hosted India in 2017/18 and have all retired from Test cricket.
“It’s not easy, it’s one of the most challenging places to play cricket and South Africa do play very well at home. We’ll have to be at our best and all the boys recognise that. It’s an opportunity but it’s not going to come easy,” said Dravid.
