However, the team’s recent performances have been under scrutiny as Rohit Sharma and co. have not been able to handle pressure well. Be it with the bat or ball, the team hasn’t had an all-round performance in a while.
Former India all-rounder and World Cup-winner Yuvraj Singh on Thursday raised concerns over Team India‘s issues of handling pressure in crunch games.
Taking to X (formally Twitter), Yuvraj wrote, “We all want a repeat of 2011 in #ICCWorldCup23 BUT In 2011 #TeamIndia shined under pressure. In 2023, Again, the team is under pressure to perform. Do we have enough time to turn this around? Can we use this pressure to become a ‘Game changer’?
Responding to Yuvraj, former India opener Virender Sehwag, in his own unique way, said that the Indian team will not be taking pressure on themselves and instead putting it on the opposition. The World Cup winner also pointed out the fact that since 2011, the hosts have gone on to win the tournament.
“Ayi baat pressure ki, toh iss bar hum pressure lenge nahi, denge! Like champions! Peechle 12 saal mein, host team world cup jeeti hain! 2011 – We won at Home. 2015 – Australia won in Australia. 2019 – England won in England. 2023 – Hum Toofan Machayenge!
Former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly also weighed in on the conversation saying that Rohit has a solid team at his disposal and India have got a big chance to win at home.
“Is #TeamIndia favourite because the World Cup is held in India or because we’re playing with strength and confidence @virendersehwag? Yes, we won against Aus in Aus, drew series against England but then we lost to them both in big match situations. I think we have a solid team and a big chance, but we do need to get back to our winning ways before the #ICCworldCup23,” Ganguly wrote.
The World Cup starts from October 5 with the clash of list-time finalists England and New Zealand. India play their first match on October 8 against Australia.