ICC Champions Trophy: Rahul Dravid hails Virat Kohli's use of Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah

Mumbai: Rahul Dravid hailed Virat Kohli’s leadership abilities after India’s comfortable nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy, at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, in Birmingham.

Kohli has led India to the finals of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, after stellar victories against Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh. With these wins, Team India have set up a summit clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, a match in which they will be looking to defend the title that they won four years back.

“He is still learning, he’s a young captain and he’s only going to get better and better, the more he captains there is no denying his passion and his desire, and his ability to lift the team when its required, and there is no bigger occasion than this one,” Dravid said to ESPNCricinfo.

He was critical of India’s bowling and praised Kohli’s decision to bring in Ashwin in the latter stage of the tournament.

“I am happy that Kohli brought in Ashwin at this stage, rather than bringing him early,” he said. “We’ve seen with the bowling as well he has mixed it around a bit, for example he has given Bumrah the new ball, so yes, I mean it’s been good.”

Rahul Dravid praised Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling at the death overs and was also happy with his bowling action.

“It would be up front and back at the death, how dangerous he can be. But you just have to play it according to the situation. He is incredible at the death, his yorkers and slower ones, change in pace, it is absolutely exceptional,” he said.

The top order batsman congratulated Yuvraj Singh, who got his 300th One Day International cap, and recalled one of the 35-year-old’s early days in ODI cricket, back in 2000.

“Just going back to that game in 2000, when we played in the Champions Trophy when he first came in, it was incredible,” said Dravid.

The former captain believes that it is hard to imagine an all-time India XI without Yuvraj Singh.

“You can’t think of an all-time India XI without considering Yuvraj Singh very seriously. He will make most people’s all time one day XI, the performances he’s had over the last 17 years,” the former Karnataka batsman added.

Dravid further credited the Bangladesh team for reaching the Champions Trophy semifinals, and also added that India are one of the sides that are expected to be in the last four.

“Credit to Bangladesh for being there. India, probably one of the sides expected to be in the final four. Credit to Bangladesh, they won a really important game (against New Zealand) they needed to win. Obviously, a little bit of luck with the game against Australia. I think a lot of sides have had that kind of luck,” he said.

Dravid further praised India’s batting and the ability to play in pressure situations. He said, “India like to chase, they have got some really good players. They have some experienced players, people like Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni, under pressure, terrific chasing,” he said.