Dravid gears up for Proteas challenge in new avatar

After a renewal of his contract along with the support staff, Dravid is all set to face his first challenge in India’s tour of South Africa scheduled in the months of December and January. Speaking to StarSports Dravid said, “So, it is a challenging place to bat; the statistics will tell you that. It is one of the most difficult places to bat in, especially up here in Centurion and Johannesburg. The wickets do tend to do a bit, and they tend to get up and down as well. Every one of the batsmen will have a game plan as to how they want to go, as long as they are clear about it and they commit to it and are practising towards that, that's fine.”

It was under Dravid’s captaincy that India registered its first ever win against South Africa in 2006. This tour would also be a matter of prestige for the coach who is now also facing questions regarding his role in the team’s setup. Dravid would be more charged up and on his toes this time around. “We don't expect everyone to play in the same way. We want them to be very clear about what works for them, and then be able to execute that. The boys, once they get out there, a lot of it is mental, and I guess, you know, we try to stress on the fact that if we do get going, if we get the opportunity to get set, they try to make it a match-winning contribution,” Dravid added.