I am playing in Ranji at team’s request: Dravid

Rahul Dravid said on Thursday that he decided to play for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy’s quarter-final against Saurashtra in Mumbai on the request of the state side and not from a personal point of view.
The batting great has come out of a pronounced run-slump in Tests with a century in the first innings in Mohali before coming Mumbai for the four-day on Friday.

“I was requested by the boys to play in this match. I am not playing from a personal point of view. It’s a important game and it’s good to be back playing for Karnataka,” Dravid said after a practice session at the Brabourne Stadium.

“We have a young side. I don’t know all of them very well, having not played with them for long. But hopefully we can put up a good performance,” said the former India skipper, who had played two matches earlier for Karnataka in the league phase of the tournament.

Dravid said the prolonged break from the international cricket grind for the Indian players would see them taking part in domestic cricket which, he felt, would be a good preparation for the battles lying ahead.

“The break from international cricket after the cancellation of the Pakistan tour (in wake last month’s terror strike in Mumbai) has given us an opportunity to play in domestic cricket though not all of us would be playing.”

“The Duleep Trophy (that follows) would also be a good preparation for the season ahead,” he said.