Johannesburg, Jan 2 (FN Agency) India head coach Rahul Dravid on Sunday acknowledged the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) rules related to slow over rate, saying that it is an area the team needs to get better at. While India scripted history at Centurion, the team were fined 20 percent of their match fee and one WTC point for maintaining slow over rate in the first Test against South Africa. India have now lost a total of three WTC points, having been penalised two points after the Nottingham Test in England. “Rules are the same for everyone. It’s hard, we’re playing four seamers,” Dravid said in a virtual press conference on the eve of second Test. “It’s an area we need to get better at. Disappointing to lose points. Would be disappointing to miss out because of that. Not a problem in India but need to look at it overseas. “ICC are trying various things. They’ve tried fines, which doesn’t seem to work. They’re trying hard, too.
It’s difficult to predict sometime where we lose time, like injuries, wicket change etc. We need to get better at managing time,” he added. Currently, the Virat Kohli-led side sits at fourth position in the WTC points table with 53 points and 63.09 winning percentage after four wins, one loss and two drawn Tests. When asked about the weather and the pitch at the Wanderers Stadium, the head coach said that batting could get tough towards the end. “Haven’t looked much at the weather. The pitch looks good. It’s a typical Wanderers wicket. It might flatten out a bit. Batting could get tough towards the end. Generally a result wicket at the Wanderers.” While Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 48 and 20, displayed some glimpses of his talent with the bat, Cheteshwar Pujara continued to struggle with his form. The top-order batter Pujara returned with the scores of 0 and 16 in his two innings in the first Test against South Africa. Dravid, however, stressed that it is a matter of time as Pujara is doing the best he can.
Apart from Rahane and Pujara, captain Virat Kohli, is struggling to convert a good start into a big one. Kohli twice gave away his wicket while fishing a delivery wide outside the off-stump. He scored 35 and 18 in his innings. “He is doing the best he can. Certainly he’d like to score more. It’s not about being worried, it is about the position he bats which is a bit tough. When Pujara scores big, India wins. “We would love to have more big scores from batting. But you never really are in such conditions. (KL) Rahul batted well, converted it into a big score. “You feel you’re batting well but big scores don’t come. Happens to everyone. The good point is they seem to be batting well, getting start and they know to convert. It’s just a matter of time. They are in good space,” added Dravid. A 1-0 up India will take on South Africa in the second of the three-match Test series at the Wanderers stadium on January 3.