ROSEAU: He might have been the most prolific Indian scorer in the ongoing Test series but senior batsman Rahul Dravid says it has not been easy as he had to adjust to the most challenging West Indian tracks in his four visits.
“The two tracks (in the series) have been the toughest I have played on in my four trips (to the Caribbean),” claimed Dravid ahead of the final Test starting on Wednesday.
“From what I believe, this pitch too would have pace and bounce,” he said.
Dravid is the leading scorer of the series from both sides, having made 212 runs from four innings at an average of 53.00.
India, leading 1-0 in the three-Test series, face a litmus test to come out unscathed from the final game. Dravid has no doubt that his team would, by the time the match is over.
“Everybody wants to finish on a good note. Having said so, we need five days of big performance. I believe we have the team to win the Test. The attitude within the squad is very positive,” he said.
“We would have liked to win in Barbados. But losing 130 overs due to rain was disappointing. We were on a roll, from the second innings onwards,” he said.
India had set a target of 280 runs on the final day and West Indies were on the verge of losing at 202 for seven when rain and bad light allowed them to live another day.
“Bowling has been very good. Both the tracks were slightly tilted in favour of batsmen which is good.
“These wickets have had a lot of pace and bounce. But they have been good cricket wickets. They have been good advertisement for Test cricket,” he said.
Dravid might have found these tracks merely challenging but it has been absolutely devastating for a few young batsmen, notably Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli, who have been miserable failures.
“These tracks have been hard on batsmen. The quality of bowling has made it very challenging. Our batting hasn’t fired but in the context of wickets and series, we haven’t done too badly.
Dravid was all praise for Indian bowling, especially Ishant Sharma, and marveled at the way the slip cordon has performed in the series. (PTI)