[Watch] "Not concerned about what happened in '97" - Rahul Dravid smilingly responds to reporter's awkward query on 1997 Barbados Test
India head coach Rahul Dravid was taken aback by an unexpected query regarding the 1997 Barbados Test during the press conference ahead of their 2024 T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan. He, however, maintained his composure and answered the question in a rather tongue-in-cheek manner, with a smile.
India will take on Afghanistan in their first Super 8 match at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday, June 20. While Dravid was expecting questions around the game, a scribe, rather surprisingly, reminded the Indian legend of the 1997 Barbados Test, which India lost despite needing to chase only 120 runs against West Indies.
As reported by India Today, the conversation between the reporter and Dravid went 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," he added.
Watch from 8:20 onwards:
Dravid then went on to explain that his complete focus is on helping India win the upcoming match against Afghanistan. He added that there was no point in thinking about the past as the result of the 1997 Barbados Test would not change irrespective of what happens in the match against Afghanistan on Thursday.
Dravid scored 78 & 2 in the 1997 Barbados Test
Bowling first in the 1997 Test in Barbados, India held West Indies to 298 despite Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 137* as Venkatesh Prasad claimed 5-82. In response, India scored 319 as Sachin Tendulkar top-scored with 92, while Dravid contributed 78 off 243 balls.
In the second innings, the visitors bundled out the Windies for 140 in 45 overs as Abey Kuruvilla starred with 5-68. Needing 120 for a famous win, India were, however, knocked over for 81 in 35.5 overs. Ian Bishop claimed 4-22, while Curtly Ambrose and Franklyn Rose picked up three wickets each.
For India, VVS Laxman (19) was the only batter to reach double figures in the second innings. Dravid was dismissed for 2, Tendulkar for 4, Sourav Ganguly for 8 and Mohammad Azharuddin for 9.