T20 World Cup: Rahul Dravid looks forward to change in conditions ahead of Super 8 game vs Afghanistan

Team India are set to face Afghanistan in their first T20 World Cup Super 8 match on Thursday. The game will be played in Barbados, India’s first-ever sojourn to the Caribbean during the tournament this year. 

Rahul Dravid, who is on his last assignment as the Indian coach, is looking forward to a change in scenario. India so far has played only in the United States of America during this campaign. Their first three matches were played on the tough tracks in New York before their final game against Canada was abandoned in Florida. 

Speaking to the media ahead of the huge match, Rahul Dravid said, “There's no question about it. Sometimes in certain conditions - you've just got to be mindful of conditions also. I think sometimes we just get carried away in T20 cricket and just talking about pushing the needle forward.” 

Rahul Dravid looking forward to tougher challenges 

Rohit Sharma and his Indian side qualified for the Super 8 stages on the back of three successive wins in the league stages. The Men in Blue struggled with the conditions in New York as the batters failed to put up a substantial score on the board. 

While addressing the media, Rahul Dravid also said, “Cricket is a very condition-specific game. It's one of the only sports left where the surface makes such an impact on the actual skill levels, the actual performance levels, what is an acceptable performance level. It's one sport that we play where the surface makes a huge difference and it has to be brought into consideration at all times.” 

The 51-year-old has backed his team to come good in what will be a fiery pitch in Barbados where yet again run-scoring has been difficult. “We feel we've got the experience and the knowledge and also the ability to counteract different situations that may present themselves. of course, we are looking at things that the past games that have been played here, what have been the scores, what's the level of swing that people are experiencing, amount of turn they're getting, what's the bounce. So, you look at all of these factors and you come up with some basic ideas,” he said.

India will begin their Super-8 campaign against Afghanistan and this will be followed by their match against Bangladesh on the 22nd. The final match for India will be against Australia on the 24th of June. The Indians will hope to finish in the top two to make it to the Semi-Finals and put an end to wait for their ICC title.