‘One step at a time’ - Rahul Dravid shares India's game plan to qualify for WTC final

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid has opined that the side is not looking too far ahead on the road to the summit clash of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 cycle. The team is currently in the midst of the first of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh held in Chattogram.

While the series accounts for the WTC ’21-’23 cycle, India will need to win most of their remaining fixtures if they are to make a spot in the finals of the event. The Indian head coach stated that the side will need to take every Test match as it comes.

“It is one step at a time. I don't think we can start looking at the sixth one before we start here. We have got to win this one first. We have to play our best cricket to give ourselves a chance and then go to Dhaka and replicate. Just take it as we go,” said Dravid in an interview with BCCI.tv.

We know we have a challenge in our hands: Rahul Dravid

Dravid further stated that his side understands the challenges that come in their path in order to earn a qualification. However, he reitirated on taking the fixtures one step at a time and then prepare well for the series against Australia. 

“We know we have a challenge in our hands, we have to win a majority of the games we have left in the championship. But we are not going to get there if we don't take the first steps well. We have to focus on this one and then see how the cards fall and then we will see what we have to do in the series against Australia,” added Dravid.

Australia, South Africa, and team India are the three sides that have a fair chance of making it to the summit clash of the global ICC event. After the Bangladesh series, India's next red-ball assignment comes against Australia, which will set decisive for their qualification. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins-led Australia are gearing up for their clash against the Proteas before they play India in February 2023.