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Sunday, 7 July, 2002, 08:08 GMT 09:08 UK
Dravid looks to South Africa
Dravid steered India to a four-wicket win
Rahul Dravid believes India have a "realistic chance" of winning next year's World Cup after booking a place in the NatWest Series final.
Dravid's 64 guided India to a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on Saturday, ruling India's neighbours out of next weekend's Lord's date with two matches remaining.
Chasing Sri Lanka's 187, India slumped to 59 for four before Dravid's innings led the side home. "We are getting a good blend of youth and experience together and we are working really hard to get the combinations right," he said. "Everyone has got the World Cup in mind and we are moving in the right direction and if we play like this for the next six months we will be in with a realistic chance in the World Cup."
However, Dravid warned that much could change between now and the beginning of the tournament in South Africa in February.
"Six months is a long time. We have got to keep our form going," he went on. "We have got to keep improving from here because we are going to be up against very good sides who will also be improving." "We also have to be aware that six months is a long time in international cricket and at this time it is more important on us looking at this series rather than concentrating on the World Cup." Keeping conundrum Debate has raged among Indian fans this year over Dravid's new role as wicketkeeper-batsman, a tactic employed to extend the batting lineup. But Dravid insisted he was getting used to life behind the stumps. "I was initially worried about how it might go," he conceded. "But I've taken up the challenge and worked hard at it. It's probably helped that I've taken a few catches and so far it is going well.
"I thought we played pretty well," said India captain Sourav Ganguly. "It was not an easy wicket to bat on and anything over 220 would have been difficult. Ganguly also paid tribute to the support his side received from a sell-out crowd mainly made up of India fans. "It is amazing to see so many people turn out. With so much noise it is like Eden Gardens." Fernando took two for 22 but Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya conceded it would have taken something truly extraordinary for the bowlers to defend such a low score. "Today we needed more runs but we have not batted well throughout the series. "We have been bowling well in patches but not consistently. I think we need to look into that for future games."
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