Rahul Dravid: This could be the making of a really good Indian side

Ahead of the India's all-important tour of Australia, cricket legend, Rahul Dravid, had words of wisdom to share with the young Indian batsman while remaining optimistic of team India's chances in the four-Test series starting in Brisbane on December 4th. 

Speaking at a promotional event for Gillette, the master batsman said that playing in Australia would be a different ball game to playing anywhere else and that once-set, batsmen can cash in on big runs. "One of the good things about playing in Australia is that the wickets are true, unlike England, where the ball can swing and seam sometimes throughout the day, and once once set, you can score runs. It think it will be a great challenge and there are lot of learnings from the Australian tour," said Dravid

Following the high profile retirements of Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman since the last tour of Australia, the onus of scoring has fallen on Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who form the core of the Indian middle order. While Rahane had a relatively successful tour of England, Kohli and Pujara were often found wanting with their techniques to the swinging ball pitched on the off-stump channel. Dravid felt that the biggest challenge for the Indian batsmen would be to stay positive and knowing where their off-stump is.

"I think the real challenges are going to be again on and outside the off stump and the bounce that you have to counter. So knowing where your off stump is going to be critically important even in Australia. Because, if you play deliveries on fifth stump, there is a good chance that you might actually end up nicking to the slips and edges do carry there. So knowing where your off stump is very important in Australia. And, being positive, I think, scoring runs in Australia when you get the opportunity, actually cashing in and having a strong back foot game are the few things not only Kohli and Pujara but the whole batting unit will have to work on," said Dravid, when asked about the technical adjustments needed for a batsman to thrive in Australian conditions.

Without stating whether India could achieve a series win Down Under, something that eluded even the great Indian teams of the past, the former batsman was hopeful of a strong showing from the team. "If you look at India's record over the last three series, we came close in South Africa, we came close in New Zealand and then we won a Test match in England. So I think that's positive. At least I feel that they are going in the right direction.

"The first part of the England tour went really well. Obviously the back three Test matches India struggled, but I am hoping that they will have a little more consistency in this series. If they can, irrespective of results, actually play some good and competitive cricket, then this could be the making of a really good Indian side for the future," reasoned Dravid.