• Sportzyverse
• T20 World Cup 2024
• 05/17/2024
• 0 Comments

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has highlighted a recurring issue for Team India in ICC tournaments: their inability to win knockout matches. Despite consistently reaching the semifinals or finals in major tournaments over the last decade, India has faltered at the crucial stages, with ten ICC tournaments resulting in nine eliminations in the knockout rounds. This pattern has led to questions about whether India has a mental block when it comes to delivering in high-pressure situations.

Misbah’s Insights on Pressure Handling

Drawing from his own experiences, Misbah, who faced a painful defeat in the 2007 T20 World Cup final, suggested that India and other sub-continental teams like Pakistan struggle with the immense pressure and expectations from their large fanbases. In contrast, Misbah pointed out that Australia often overcomes these hurdles due to their strong mental attitude.

“Look at Australia, for instance. They overcome most of these hurdles with their strong mental attitude. As big matches and pressure situations arise, they manage to stay composed. In contrast, teams like Pakistan, India, and other Asian teams face immense pressure from their huge populations and high expectations. This pressure can affect performance significantly,” Misbah said during an interaction with Star Sports.

Misbah underlined the crucial role of mental toughness, suggesting that India’s struggle to secure victories in knockout games could be attributed to their difficulty in handling the pressure effectively. He urged India to take immediate note of how Australia maintains composure in critical moments, sparking a sense of urgency and motivation in the audience to address this aspect of their game.

“It’s something India has struggled with in the last few mega events, where they haven’t been able to finish strong. This isn’t as big of an issue for Australia, but for Pakistan and India, playing under such intense pressure is a major challenge. It’s interesting to see how these teams will manage it in the future. India will especially need to find ways to overcome this mounting pressure if they want to succeed in upcoming events.”

Also read Mohammad Rizwan ‘s Heartfelt Tribute to Virat Kohli Steals Hearts After Pakistan’s Victory Over Ireland

Admiration for India’s Current Team

Alongside his critique, Misbah expressed deep admiration for the current crop of Indian cricketers, acknowledging the balance and strength of the squad selected for the T20 World Cup 2024. He particularly highlighted the depth in India’s bowling lineup, which includes formidable bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Hardik Pandya, instilling a sense of pride and confidence in the audience about the team’s capabilities.

“It’s a different Indian team now, a skilful team with a very powerful bowling lineup. The batting has always been strong, but the quality of their fast bowling has really elevated their game. With bowlers like Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and the all-round abilities of Hardik Pandya, the quality of Indian cricket has increased significantly. Their ability to handle pressure has improved too. Playing so much cricket gives them exposure and boosts their confidence. To break this, opposing teams need to make a lot of effort, which is a difficult task,” said Misbah.

India’s squad for the T20 World Cup, chosen by chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, captain Rohit Sharma, and coach Rahul Dravid, is one of the most balanced line-ups. The omission of Rinku Singh aside, the squad is packed with talent and experience, making India a formidable contender for the tournament.