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Dravid warns against complacency

Rahul Dravid said that maintaining the intensity and form of the previous matches would help India gain an unassailable 3-0 lead in the six-match ODI series.

Updated on: Apr 09, 2005 09:12 AM IST
PTI | By , Jamshedpur
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Vice-captain Rahul Dravid on Friday dismissed theories about Keenan stadium being a jinxed venue and said that maintaining the intensity and form of the previous matches would help India gain an unassailable 3-0 lead in the six-match limited overs cricket series against Pakistan.

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HT Image

"Every match is different. In the past, the players and situations were different. I don't see records at the venues," Dravid said on the eve of the third One-Day International.

India won the first two matches in Kochi and Visakhapatnam comprehensively but their win-loss at the Steel City is an abysmal one-five, with one match abandoned.

Dravid, however, warned his teammates of complacency.

"We are very much aware of what happenned in the Test series. We dominated the first Test, won the second and then lost at Bangalore," he said.

"Pakistan is a good side. We have lot of respect for them. They will be keen to hurt us. They will bounce back hard at us. So, we have to guard against complacency.

'The Wall' felt that the toss would not play a crucial role in the match.

"It's a good wicket. The team batting first will try to get a big score, may be 300 plus.

"And then the pressure will be on the other team. Because it is not easy to keep up to a big asking rate and also keep wickets," he said.

Terming the side's latest batting sensation M S Dhoni as brilliant, Dravid said the wicketkeeper-batsman should come at number three in the batting order and there should not be much change in the team and line-up.

"Logic says that there should not be any change in the side and Dhoni should come to bat at the same position. But the final XI will be decided (later)."

With pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji ruled out due to a rib injury, Dravid did not give a categoric reply when asked if Ajit Agarkar would play tomorrow.

"We are yet to decide that. We are lucky to have all our four pacers in good form."

 
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