World Cup 2023: 'No guarantees to win any game of cricket,' says India coach Dravid ahead of semi-final

India head coach Rahul Dravid has admitted that his team will be under pressure when they take on New Zealand in the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-final at home. India entered the last four stage by winning all nine of their league stage games and play their semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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Dravid, who was part of the Indian side that lost in the 2003 final, said that there are no guarantees in a game and India will have to try to give their best.

India reached the semi-final in 2019 as well but lost to New Zealand in that tournament.

“I would be in-authentic if I say that there will be no pressure of semi-final. You have no guarantees to win any game of cricket. What you can do is prepare the best you can and we’ve been doing that,” Dravid said on Star Sports after India defeated Netherlands by 160 runs in their last group match.

India’s 100 percent record in the group stage has been a subject of much discussion among the experts but Dravid said that his team needs to stay focussed on the job.

“When it’s going well it looks good. One loss and everyone says you don’t know anything,” Dravid said when the record was mentioned.

Read: India tick off all the boxes as Men in Blue juggernaut rolls into semis

Dravid also praised Shreyas Iyer for finding his form at the back end of the tournament.

“Shreyas Iyer is the backbone of our middle order, and we all know how tough it has been for us to find a good No. 4 batter for the last 10 years,” Dravid added.