Rahul Dravid the head coach of India was taken aback by an unexpected question concerning the 1997 Barbados Test during the press conference preceding their 2024 T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan. Despite the surprise Dravid maintained composure and addressed the query with a witty response and a smile.
India is primed to go headtohead with Afghanistan in their premier Super 8 clash at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown Barbados on Thursday June 20. While Dravid was expecting inquiries about the game a journalist surprisingly stirred memories for the Indian legend by recalling the 1997 Barbados Test where India suffered a loss despite needing only 120 runs to defeat West Indies.
As reported by India Today, the reporter’s chat with Rahul Dravid proceeded as follows.
Reporter: “Rahul, you as a player, you have played here. Not the best memories of the ’97 Test?”
Dravid: “Geez, thanks a lot buddy! I have had some other decent memories here as well.”
Reporter: “That is actually my question. A chance for you to probably make new and much better memories tomorrow?”
Dravid: “God man! I am not trying to make new anything man!
“I move on from things very quickly. That’s one of my things. I don’t look back on things. I try and look at what I am doing now, at the moment. I am not concerned about what happened in ’97 or some other year.”
Rahul Dravid
Watch from 8:20 onwards
Rahul Dravid passionately conveyed his unwavering commitment to supporting India in securing victory against Afghanistan in the upcoming match. He stressed the futility of dwelling on the past highlighting that the outcome of the 1997 Barbados Test remains unaltered regardless of the results in the forthcoming Afghanistan match on Thursday.
Rahul Dravid scored 78 & 2 in the 1997 Barbados Test
India chose to bowl first in the 1997 Barbados Test against West Indies. Despite Shivnarine Chanderpauls stellar unbeaten 137 the Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad excelled by clinching 5 wickets for 82 runs. In response India batted to score 319 runs with Sachin Tendulkar leading the charge at 92 runs closely followed by Dravid who contributed 78 runs off 243 balls.
In the second innings, the visitors bundled out the Windies for 140 in 45 overs, with Abey Kuruvilla taking 5-68. India, needing 120 for a memorable triumph, were bowled out for 81 in 35.5 overs by Ian Bishop, who claimed 4-22, while Curtly Ambrose and Franklyn Rose each took three wickets.
VVS Laxman (19) was India’s sole batsman to reach double figures in the second innings. Dravid was removed twice, Tendulkar for four, Sourav Ganguly for eight, and Mohammad Azharuddin for nine.