Ever since India won the T20 World Cup in 2024, it feels like they are competing with themselves, and no team is on par with them. India played 41 T20 games between these two World Cups and won 31 of them. During this time, they also made 3 of their 11 highest totals in T20Is.
India is also dominating the white-ball ICC tournaments. They had won 17 games in both white-ball formats in ICC events. On Sunday, South Africa halted India in its domination in ICC events. After their loss against South Africa, India is unsure if they will make it to the semi-final in a home World Cup.
In the next Super 8 game, India is slated to face Zimbabwe. That same South Africa will face the West Indies. If the West Indies can upset South Africa, then it will become a must-win game for India, and they also have to fight on the net run rate front. India is not used to this kind of scenario, where they have to depend on some permutations and combinations to get through to the semi-finals, at least not since the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Here is what India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, had to say about it. “See, obviously, the World Cup in India, there will be pressure. I am a big believer that any international game you play, even I have played some ordinary district games, when you go to bat, you will feel pressure.”
“If you don’t feel that anxiety, it means you are not playing cricket. So that anxiety, you learn to deal with it from the start of your career.”
“And this is a big-pressure game, obviously, when you are representing a country in a World Cup in India. A lot of expectation, but I honestly believe that for a professional, that’s part of his life, and we should deal with that in a positive manner.”
Kotak backs India’s batters to perform whenever the need arises, as most of India’s squad has been involved in IPL playoff matches. So, they are used to pressure situations.
“Just because we lost one game and have not got [a good opening] partnership, people talk more about it, but I honestly think they all are good enough to handle that pressure, and we have to. If we want to win the World Cup, we have to handle that pressure. If we can’t, then it’s tough.”
“And I don’t believe that there is anything this team cannot handle. So it’s just, I am personally looking for that momentum. Once we start getting that momentum again, if we do it from tomorrow, I think they will be picking up at the right time. So I am looking at it that way.”
He also admitted that India was not good enough when they got bowled out for 111 against South Africa. “Last game also, I think we should take it in a stride that it was the worst game we played in two years. So, honestly, I feel we should just not think about it too much and move ahead.”
However, he doesn’t expect that to change their approach. “We will play the same brand of cricket. Yes, like I said, sometimes you lose a couple of quick wickets, and somebody tries to see off six-eight balls – not defending, but maybe the shot selection or a risk percentage, shots you play. But that’s about it.”
