Change in bat size will have an impact, says Rahul Dravid

New Delhi: Rahul Dravid on Tuesday welcomed the introduction of new rules to curb bat dimensions, predicting it will have an impact on the proceedings. The International Cricket Council, in an attempt to redress the imbalance between bat and ball has restricted the thickness to 108mm in width, 67mm in depth with 40mm at  the edges.

“Yes, it will have an impact. The results will show the effect. Though the change isn’t very drastic as only few players use bats that do not come under new rules. It is a good decision,” said Dravid at an event here on Tuesday, held to felicitate Indian women’s skipper Mithali Raj and former captain Jhulan Goswami.

The former India skipper said bat dimension was only one factor in a cricket match.“It is also about the nature of the pitch and the size of the boundary,” he added. Dravid supported the decision to introduce one-day and Test leagues. “The leagues will generate more interest and give context to bilateral series.”

The Under-19 and A team head coach also shot down speculation about Virat Kohli being denied rest during the Sri Lanka Test series next month. “Rotations are needed. There are a lot of matches being played, so you need to rotate the players. I think the management is taking right decision (in terms of rotating the players),” he said.