In a disappointing turn of events, Team India faced a defeat in the final of the World Test Championship against Australia at The Oval. The side experienced a batting collapse in both innings, resulting in a substantial 209-run loss in the title clash. This marked India’s second consecutive loss in the final of the tournament, as they had previously been defeated by New Zealand two years ago.

Reflecting on the match, Team India’s Head Coach Rahul Dravid acknowledged that the team lacked the solid partnership needed to achieve the mammoth 444-run target. He credited Australia for their superior performance throughout the five days of the final. Dravid emphasized the importance of self-reflection and identifying areas for improvement without making excuses or complaints.

“We don’t have that [solid partnership]. The situation doesn’t allow it. We have to make do with what we can. No excuses, no complaints, I just want to congratulate Australia on winning the final, they played better than us on all five days. We just need to look at ourselves, see how we can get better, and what we can improve on,” said Rahul Dravid.

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Discussing the match, Dravid mentioned that India allowed too many runs in the final session of the first day and should have been more cautious with their bowling. He acknowledged that some shots played by the Indian batsmen could have been more careful, considering the situation. Dravid also highlighted that despite a strong start on the fourth and fifth days, the game slipped away from their hands.

“There was a lot of grass on the wicket, and conditions were cloudy. We’ve seen in England batting gets easier. There wasn’t much help on Day 4 or 5 if you saw. We got them on 70/3, but then let it slip away. Even the last time we played at Edgbaston, the pitch got easier to bat on. 300-plus was chased,” explained Rahul Dravid.

Addressing concerns about the team’s preparations, Dravid expressed his dissatisfaction as a coach. Due to the cramped and tight schedules, most of the Indian squad, except Cheteshwar Pujara, participated in the 2023 Indian Premier League and arrived in England less than two weeks before the start of the WTC Final. While acknowledging the limitations, Dravid stressed the importance of early arrival and practice matches for better preparedness.

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“I’m never going to be happy with the preparations as a coach. But that’s the reality I’m ready to accept, and we all have to accept. The schedules are so cramped and tight. These guys know… if you’re playing international cricket, and if you’re here 3 weeks before the tour, playing two side-games, you are going to be better prepared,” Rahul Dravid expressed his frustration on Star Sports.