'We'll be looking to do that in the next 24 hours': Dravid unveils plan for final vs South Africa

India are all set to lock horns against South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday. India reached the summit clash after defeating England in their semi-final game by 68 runs. The final is scheduled to take place at Kensington Oval in Barbados. 

India's head coach Rahul Dravid hailed the team's performance in the competition and hoped for luck to go their way this time around. This is the third ICC final that India will play in the last 12 months. India lost the finals of the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup but will look to change things in the upcoming match on June 29.  

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Rahul Dravid unveils Team India's plan for final

Rahul Dravid has unveiled Team India's plan ahead of the final against South Africa. India have cancelled their practice session because of lack of time but they have done other preparations well. 

“It is a good thing we have been consistently playing good cricket. We have been in finals in all three formats and credit goes to the players. If we play well and rub of the green goes (our way) we will surely win,” Dravid said. 

“In terms of our preparation, we've just got one day in the middle, so it's unlikely we're going to be having practice. It's just about all the guys getting into ensuring that physically, mentally, tactically we are ready for the game.” 

“Those are the things that we can control, that we are fresh, that we've looked after all our niggles, if there are any. We've done all our tactical preparation and we're mentally relaxed and excited and looking forward to the game.

“We'll be looking to do that in the next 24 hours and try and get ourselves in the right frame of mind to be able to play that game,” said the former India captain.

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Dravid on Barbados familiarity 

In their Super 8 opener here, India were able to post 181 against Afghanistan on a pitch where playing on the up was tough.

Dravid said they were looking to carry that knowledge into the match against South Africa.

“Yeah, I mean, just the fact that we've played a game in Barbados is nice. It's nice that we have that familiarity of having played on that surface in the past.

“But again, I think it's very hard to... We're not going to get exactly the same wicket that we got last time. I mean, it can be different, right? Dravid emphasised on the work the team put as a group coming into this showpiece while lauding their adaptive skills.

“I think what's really important is that we've done really well as a group. This whole tournament we have shown the ability to adapt, to recognize what is a good score. We played very differently in New York, then we played in St. Lucia, then we played even in Barbados when I thought that the game was quite slow.

“I'm just hoping that whatever we come up against, we will have the ability to recognize it and be able to play accordingly, as we've done in the last three games,” said Dravid.

He was referring to India’s ability to post above-par totals on tricky surfaces including in the semifinal at Guyana where they managed to post 171 on a surface with low bounce.

South Africa managed to break the long-running semifinal jinx in the World Cup, and Dravid said the Proteas will not be carrying any baggage.

“Not really, I mean it's not that the same players have been playing since 1991 and there's so many players that come and go. I don't think that really matters. I can't speak for them. But I don't think players go in keeping their baggage of the past.

Similarly, Dravid said the Indian players have the ability to move on from the Ahmedabad debacle last year.

“Players are very good at moving on from things, recognizing things. So, we will move on from Ahmedabad. I'm sure they will not be thinking about history. It'll be a fresh day.

“Two good teams, two teams I think that everyone will agree will probably be the top two teams in this tournament. So, deserving finals for both the teams. And, hopefully, it's a great game of cricket. Hopefully, we fall on the right side,” added Dravid. 

(With PTI inputs)