IPL 20-20 Cricket

Known for his copybook style of batting, Rahul Dravid on Wednesday said that he was gradually learning to keep pace with the slam-bang of Twenty20 cricket in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"I hadn't played a lot of twenty20 game earlier. Now I'm getting used to it and trying to learn and understand its pace and nature. I'm keeping it simple," Dravid said.

The Bangalore Royal Challengers captain has been scoring consistently in the IPL and struck 66 runs off 51 balls two days back against Kings XI Punjab.

"There is not much stress on technique in the twenty20 game. You have to be ruthless. But a good cricketing shot is a good cricketing shot. And whenever I can, I concentrate on playing such shots," Dravid said, when asked to spell out the secret of his success in the IPL.

Dravid said his side was yet to decide on the playing XI for the outing against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday. "Tomorrow morning, we will take a last look at the wicket, which was watered today. Then we will decide our final XI. But I don't see too many changes," he said.

Dravid, however, said opener Wasim Jaffer would be out of action for 2-3 weeks as he had fractured his finger. "It is a big blow for us".But he said all the other players in the side were fit.

Asked whether he was looking forward to a turnaround in his team's fortune, Dravid said "We hope so. That's our only chance. We've a good squad, and lost two of our matches in a close finish".