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Team India’s last ICC tournament victory was in the 2013 Champions Trophy under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Since then, India have experienced several near misses, losing in four ICC event finals and exiting the semi-finals in various other instances.
Virat Kohli‘s leadership has seen India achieve great heights in Test cricket, becoming the number one ranked team in the format. However, they have faced challenges in ICC events, including a loss in the Champions Trophy final in 2017 and a semi-final exit in the Cricket World Cup in 2019.
Under Rohit Sharma‘s captaincy, the team faced disappointment in the T20 World Cup, losing in the semi-final to England. The recent crushing defeat to Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final was another major setback.
Despite these setbacks, there is optimism among fans and experts that the upcoming ICC ODI WC, scheduled to be hosted in India, provides an opportunity for Team India to end their drought and claim an ICC trophy. The home advantage and strong team performance in bilateral series have fuelled hopes that India can achieve success in the upcoming competition on home soil.
Wasim Akram notifies Team India to be prepared for pressure beforehand the quadrennial event
The upcoming mega 50-over event has generated great excitement among cricket enthusiasts. With the last prestigious trophies being won by host nations (India in 2011, Australia in 2015, and England in 2019), many cricket experts see the Rohit -led Indian side as the favourites for the upcoming tournament. However, former legendary pacer Wasim Akram has dismissed this suggestion, cautioning about the disadvantages of playing on home soil and the extra pressure it brings.
In his warning to the Indian team just two months before the World Cup, the legendary cricketer stresses the importance of managing expectations and dealing with the challenges of playing in front of passionate home fans. According to him, Jasprit Bumrah‘s fitness could be a game-changer for India. Bumrah’s presence and form would greatly impact the team’s chances in the competition.
“Of course… India have Mohammad Shami, who is very impressive and is bowling like a dream, but Bumrah needs to remain fit. I don’t know what his situation is in terms of fitness but if he is fine, it will make a huge different. Besides, they have really good spinners and all-rounders – Jadeja, Ashwin – let’s see who plays,” the Pakistani speedster said on Radio Haanji.
Akram further stated that India have a formidable squad with several match-winners, and they have shown their ability to perform at the highest level in various cricketing formats. However, in a high-profile tournament like the ODI World Cup, the mental aspect of the game becomes crucial. The added pressure to deliver and live up to the lofty expectations of winning the title could affect the players’ mindset and performance on the field.
“There have been some really good players coming from India but there are certain disadvantages of home ground. In 2011 India won, but there is always an extra added pressure. Same with Pakistan. If they were the hosts, the pressure would be on them. Vice-versa,” Akram concluded.
Notably, India had a remarkable run in the 2019 ODI tournament, finishing atop the points table. However, their journey ended in disappointment with a shock exit against New Zealand in the semi-final. Now, they are gearing up for the 2023 World Cup, and their campaign will kick off with an intense clash against five-time world champions Australia in Chennai on October 8. The marquee event begins on October 5 with a mouthwatering clash between 2019 finalists England and New Zealand.
Before their highly anticipated encounter with arch-rivals Pakistan on October 15 in the 50-overs competition, India will also face Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup.
