Pune: Head coach Rahul Dravid has said that the Indian team is being prepared for the next T20 World Cup and there is a need to give experience to young players. Dravid said that one of the important reasons for the defeat in the second T20 against Sri Lanka was the inexperience of the players.
He said that Sri Lanka had an experienced playing XI while India fielded a completely different team from the T20 World Cup that took place two months back. He said in the press conference on Thursday, “These young players are very talented but they are learning. It’s not easy. Learning in international cricket is not easy. We have to work with them with patience.
He said that the team is being prepared for the next T20 World Cup. Hinting at the doors being shut for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in this format, he said there is a need to be patient with the youngsters and the team management should continue to back them.
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He said, “We played the last T20 World Cup semi-final against England before this series. Only three or four players from that team are in the current team. We are eyeing the next T20 World Cup and this is a young team.”
With the focus now on the ODI World Cup to be held in India, Dravid believes it is the right time to give more youngsters a chance to play T20s. He said, “The good thing is that the ODI World Cup is going to happen this year. There will be more focus on that. Then there is the World Test Championship. In such a situation, opportunities can be given to youth in T20 matches.
India gave chances to youngsters like Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi in this series. Dravid said, “Along with giving them opportunities, they also need to be supported. We have to work with them with patience. We also have to understand that matches like this will come.” (agency)