MOHALI: Rahul Dravid seemed to have given up hope for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL when he said that the team would “play for pride” in their remaining six matches. At the bottom of the eight-team double-leg round-robin tournament with four points, Royal Challengers need to win at least five of the games to have any chance of making the semi-finals. It is indeed a tough ask for a team which is not only affected by poor performances on the field but bothered as much by developments off it.

‘‘We will play for pride and make it hard for the teams in the remainder of the tournament, beginning with Team Mohali on Monday,’’ said the former India captain, who is under pressure from all quarters, including the franchisee. At a press meet at the PCA stadium on the eve of the match against Team Mohali, Dravid was asked how it felt to be termed a ‘good Test team’.

‘‘We have not played good cricket, so such comments will come. It is disappointing for the team, for all who are part of it including the franchisee. But we still have six matches to go and will bounce back with a good performance,’’ he said.

But were the choice of players’ right as the auction? ‘‘Well, there were lot of variables at the auction. The players we picked are all quality players, it’s only that their performances have dipped. The big names are not doing well. We have not got the combination right. All this as magnified after we did not start well and lost some close matches.”
And what does he plan to do differently? Dravid said: “Differently? Well, first of all we must start winning close matches. We have lost three close games.”
Source:ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com