There was a touch of concern surrounding the Indian middle-order, significantly round KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer forward of the World Cup, however head coach Rahul Dravid on Saturday expressed his delight over the way wherein they responded to the duty on the showpiece. Rahul returned from a tendon damage throughout the current Asia Cup whereas Iyer needed to battle in opposition to a again spasm earlier than getting match simply in time for the marquee occasion.

While they haven’t set the stage ablaze, Rahul’s tally of 245 runs and Iyer’s 293 runs have allowed India a superb diploma of batting solidity within the event.

“How well your middle-order performs in challenging situations under pressure, is going to probably decide how well you do. While our top order batters performed exceptionally well, I think our middle-order played very critical roles,” Dravid mentioned.

Dravid was not frightened about the truth that the numbers of gamers like Rahul and Iyer weren’t as shiny as another batters within the facet.

“You can’t judge them by numbers. It only gives you half of the picture, but it’s actually some of those 30s, 40s, critical knocks. I can look back at the contributions of our middle-order and they’ll come only in sort of spurts — a Shreyas (Iyer), or a KL (Rahul), or a Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), and Jaddu’s (Ravindra Jadeja) necessary knock in Dharamsala. These small issues really what actually provides you these ticks,” mentioned Dravid.

The former Indian captain was impressed the best way Iyer made his comeback into the facet after his damage to make some important contributions.

“He brings temperament — one of the things Shreyas has shown us from the time I have seen him at India A — the way he handles success and failure. He’s able to bring the best out of himself under those pressure situations,” mentioned Dravid.

“Guys like that who have incredible temperament and strength of mind, and I think that’s what has held him in really good stead. He’s terrific temperamentally. So, when someone like him does well, you know he’s going to make big contribution,” he added.

Apart from Rahul and Iyer, India additionally had damage worries over pacer Jasprit Bumrah and left-arm spinner Jadeja within the run-up to the World Cup.

But each the gamers recovered effectively in time to play within the quadrennial large bash, and made a telling impression.

Bumrah’s spells — within the Power Play or on the demise — have given India an plain edge, and the 29-year-old thus far has taken 15 wickets from eight matches.

Dravid acknowledged the hassle these gamers have put in to make a comeback and in addition credited the National Cricket Academy and workforce assist employees for serving to them get better effectively.

“Obviously, a lot of thought and planning have gone into it. You need a little bit of luck as well. I think it’s been great for us to have those guys back fit and ready just in time for this tournament. Our margins were tight,” he mentioned.

“We knew that some of them would be coming in just at the Asia Cup and prior to this tournament. So, we had to make some contingency plans.

“But the truth that they have been in a position to come into this event is a tribute and to their very own exhausting work, the efforts of the NCA, the physios, the trainers for making certain that, we caught to these timelines,” he mentioned.

Dravid mentioned the Indian facet responded properly to the challenges regardless of dropping left-arm spinner Axar Patel forward of the event and all-rounder Hardik Pandya throughout the occasion to accidents.

“At the World Test Championship, we missed a few guys. Even right here we now have missed a few guys, one earlier than the event and one throughout the event. But we have been in a position to reply very well thus far.

“It’s not easy. Sometimes people think, oh, it’s easy to get injured players playing. It’s not that simple. You know, when you have an injury in normal life and getting back to normal office work is easy, but getting back to people to professional sport is not easy. So, well done to everyone so far,” he mentioned. Dravid was additionally impressed with the best way India managed to adapt to situations throughout completely different venues throughout this event.

India have performed all their eight matches thus far at completely different stadiums and Bengaluru will probably be their ninth in as many video games.

“I think we’ve maintained some really high standards — in terms of our execution and intensity. I think we’ve travelled the length and breadth of this country and played in eight venues. This is our ninth venue. We know we have nine boxes to tick, and we’ve ticked eight,” he concluded.