The Indian team is yet to win an ICC trophy since they lifted the Champions Trophy in 2013, but they have always qualified in the semi-final at least in all the major ICC tournaments since 2014, including both — 50-over and T20 World Cups. India suffered a recent loss in the World Cup semi-final last year against New Zealand where they were bundled-out chasing a below-par total. Performing under pressure in big knockout games is where many players fail but Gautam Gambhir is the player who excelled more often than not.
Gambhir was the highest scorer for India in both the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup final, on Saturday said that the current Indian cricketers have not been able to handle the pressure the way they should in ICC tournaments. The southpaw said that performance in crucial knockout games is what turns a “good player” into a “very very good player”.
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During a chat on Star Sports’ show ‘Cricket Connected’, Gautam said, “What sets you apart from being a good player to being a very very good player in a team squad is what you do on those crucial games. I think probably we have not been able to handle the pressure, probably other teams have been able to handle the pressure that way.”
The BIG Question: How can #TeamIndia become 🌏 champions again? 🤔
Hear what @GautamGambhir has to say, as he joins @IrfanPathan & @jatinsapru, tonight on #CricketConnected! pic.twitter.com/hbrHJmU9wz
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 13, 2020
Adding to his argument, Gambhir said that the players’ mental toughness also plays a key role in them performing in the knockout matches of a big tournament. He said, “If you look at all the semi-finals and finals, it just shows when playing really well in the league stage and you don’t play well in the semi-finals or knockout, it’s probably your mental toughness as well.”
India has often entered ICC tournament in recent times as one of the favorites but failed to get their hands on the trophy and according to Gambhir team’s reputation or players’ caliber takes a back seat in multi-nation tournaments and all that matters is how they get out on the field and perform.
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Gambhir also highlighted that in bilateral series teams can make mistakes and still get a second chance which they don’t get in the knockout stage of an ICC showpiece event.
Gautam Gambhir elaborated, “So it’s just your ability in those crunch situations. I’ve always said this, in bilateral and league stages you have got probably a chance to make the mistake, come to the knockout stage you don’t have a chance to make a mistake, you make a mistake and you’re going back home. So that’s where beliefs come into play and that where India lacks in all those crucial games.”
