The Hindu : We've let down people back home: Dravid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

We've let down people back home: Dravid

By Our Special Correspondent

JOHANNESBURG FEB. 16. The Indian team, in an apparent effort to soothe the feelings of the fans back home, has made an appeal for support in times of distress. At a press conference in Harare on Sunday, Rahul Dravid, speaking on behalf of the team, admitted that the team had let down its well-wishers and fans by losing to Australia in a most shockingly meek display. The team as a whole offered an apology to its millions of fans.

According to information gathered here, Dravid said the team as a whole is disappointed with the defeat on Saturday. "We've let down lot of people back home. There's bound to be criticism and we accept it in the right spirit,'' he said, showing respect to the sentiments of the cricket lovers in India.

The move to project Dravid as the spokesman for the team in such a difficult period was a sensible effort by the team management, which has been at a loss to explain the deterioration in the ranks, right from the time the team was belted in New Zealand and the struggled has continued here too.

``There's no answer to good form. And there's no answer to bad form. We all realize our need to improve and perform better. The team is feeling bad about it and its time we all got together, backed each other because this is the test of character. Each match counts a lot. We all need to motivate ourselves and pick ourselves up. All is not lost yet.''

Dravid admitted that it was time for the players to perform as a team and not shine individually. "There's quality in the side and we've shown in the past what the team is capable of. We've to perform collectively and that's the key. We've worked hard for this tournament, discussed all areas and had plenty of `nets'. Things haven't gone our way here but we hope there'll be a turnaround. World Cup is a huge event and we do realize our responsibilities.''

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