"I don't think teams carry the baggage of the past", Dravid on the heartbreak at Ahmedabad in ODI WC 2023 Final

Recent defeats in ICC finals will have no bearing on how India perform in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, according to head coach Rahul Dravid. India have stumbled at the last hurdle in their two most recent appearances in ICC finals, having tasted defeat to Australia in both last year’s ICC World Test Championship final in London and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad.

“I’m sure they will not be thinking about history and it will be a fresh day…”

Dravid, however, believes this will have no impact on the fortunes of India in the one-off contest against South Africa in Barbados on Saturday. The Asian side is attempting to claim their second T20 World Cup title after their success in the inaugural tournament back in 2007.

“I don’t think players go in keeping the baggage of the past and what has happened in the past, so every day is a fresh day,” Dravid said.

“Players are very good at moving on from things, of recognising things. So yes, I think just as we will move on from Ahmedabad, I’m sure they will not be thinking about history and it will be a fresh day.

“Two good teams, two teams I think that everyone will agree that probably the top two teams in this tournament played the best cricket I think in this tournament, both South Africa and India.

“So, deserving finals for both the teams and hopefully it’s a great game of cricket and hopefully we fall on the right side.”

India’s unbeaten run and focus on performance

India enter the T20 World Cup decider unbeaten in the tournament. The only game they failed to win was against Canada in Florida, where inclement weather conditions forced the clash to be abandoned. Three victories at the tournament preceded the Canada match, and four wins have come after. Despite this impressive record, Dravid believes India has yet to produce a faultless performance at the event.

“I think you’re always looking to improve. And I don’t think you can ever have a perfect game,” Dravid added.

“Certainly, we have not had a perfect, perfect game in any game and I don’t think any team really does.

“So, look, I mean, I think in one day it’s not that, you’re going to suddenly start changing things too much. So, for us really, I think now getting into this final, it’s just about staying relaxed, about trusting the good cricket that we’ve played about recognising I think that we found ourselves in pressure situations right through this tournament but we’ve always found players and people to come up and deliver the goods.

“Also just recognising that we’ve got a really good balance in the team, we’ve got the players and just for us to, like I answered earlier, maybe just come there really well prepared, do all the things that we can do, control all the controllables, do everything that we need to do and then just go out and play hopefully a great game of cricket.”

While hopeful that a perfect game will come against South Africa, Dravid is a realist. He is focused on helping the players stay relaxed and produce close to their best in the clash. Dravid’s emphasis is on maintaining composure and performing consistently rather than dwelling on past disappointments.

See Also: “My best memories are…”, Rahul Dravid shares thoughts before his last day as team India coach ahead of T20 WC Final 2024 – Cricket Winner

India’s campaign in the tournament has been strong, and the team is determined to overcome the final hurdle this time. Dravid’s confidence and pragmatic approach aim to guide India to their second T20 World Cup triumph, irrespective of their previous ICC final setbacks.