Virender Sehwag, the former Indian cricketer, has offered valuable advice to the Rohit Sharma-led team ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023. Sehwag emphasized the importance of treating every ODI match as a crucial encounter, comparing them to knockout games in preparation for the tournament.
With the advantage of playing on home soil, the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, is considered one of the favorites in the upcoming World Cup. The Men in Blue previously tasted World Cup glory when they hosted the 2011 tournament under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
During the launch event, Virender Sehwag reflected on the team’s preparation for the 2011 World Cup and highlighted their approach to each game.
“When Gary Kirsten joined us as the coach in 2008, we were three years away from the World Cup. But for those three years, we treated every game as a knockout match, winning most of the tournaments and bilateral series. We believed that we had to win each and every game,” Sehwag shared.
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“I think if India starts treating every ODI as a knockout game from today, it will ease the pressure when they reach the actual knockout stage of the World Cup. Adopting that mindset will alleviate the pressure during the crucial stages,” he added.
Sehwag praised Rahul Dravid’s coaching style and acknowledged the Indian team’s progress under his guidance, including reaching the WTC final. He emphasized that it is ultimately the players’ performance on the field that determines the outcome.
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“Similarly, Rahul Dravid knows how to manage his players and bring out the best in them. Once the players step onto the field, their performance is what matters. If they perform well, the coach receives appreciation. If they fail, the coach faces criticism,” Sehwag stated.
He further highlighted the significance of reaching the WTC final twice in a row, emphasizing that while defeats may overshadow achievements, the coach’s role is secondary to the players’ performance.
“Reaching the WTC final is an impressive feat, but we tend to focus on the defeats and question Dravid. He has been an outstanding player, but as a coach, he cannot play on the field. It is up to the players. A school’s reputation lies in its students, not its teachers. It is the students who learn and achieve success,” Sehwag concluded.