Rahul Dravid cautions India despite unbeaten run before T20 World Cup, highlights knockout risks

India is preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup, However, former head coach Rahul Dravid has sounded a note of caution. The tournament will be held in India and Sri Lanka, and the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, has been in strong form, remaining unbeaten in their last nine T20 series. The impressive performances of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav have further boosted confidence within the squad.

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India also won the T20 World Cup at home in 2024. However, Dravid, who coached that title-winning side, has warned that even home advantage and form may not guarantee success.

Dravid warns about knockouts and one bad day

India has shown dominance in T20 cricket recently, winning nearly 80 per cent of their matches. But Dravid cautioned that problems could arise after the group stage, especially in the semi-finals or knockout matches. He referred to India’s defeat in the 2023 ODI World Cup final as a reminder of how quickly situations can change.

Speaking at an event, Dravid said that India will certainly start the tournament as favourites. They will easily reach the semi-finals. But the real test will begin after that. Speaking from my own bad experience, whoever plays well on that day will win. No matter how strong the Indian team is, one bad day can change everything. Everything can end in just one innings. And that can come from any cricketer of the opposition. Then all the previous good performances will have no importance.

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Rohit Sharma’s white-ball approach

Dravid also highlighted the role played by Rohit Sharma in India’s dominance in white-ball cricket. He said Rohit made a significant contribution by playing aggressively from the start, without focusing on personal milestones or records, which helped the team post big totals.

The former India coach praised Rohit for putting the team’s needs above individual achievements, calling his approach a key factor behind India’s recent success.