India, the land of cricket fanatics, is reeling from another devastating final defeat in the under-19 World Cup. It has become a matter of superstition that Indians have lost the luck in the finals. This has become a recurring trend in India to perform stupendously in the prelim matches and lose the title between the cup and the lips. With the third ICC final loss, only one question remains. To deepen the pain of cricket lovers in India, this is the second consecutive failure in three months. Why did clinching the title become an insurmountable task for India? Let’s see further.
Indian Unlucky Finals
Cricket is a common topic of discussion amongst friends. Be it Gavaskar’s historic sixers, Sachin’s superhuman batting, Virat Kohli’s exemplary captaincy, or Rohit Sharma’s resilience – Indian cricket fans have something to celebrate during the matches. However, while we lay down before the TV with something to crunch, we worry about India not losing any preliminary matches because if they perform well in the lead matches, they will fail to clinch the title. The latest U-19 World Cup witnessed how the youth showcased perseverance and immense skill while they stuck to each other against the most formidable rivals. Is this a superstition, a coincidence, or is there more to it? Let’s delve deeper into why India is stumbling on late finals.
1. The pressure build-up
Though our national sport is hockey, cricket is a national obsession. The media attention, the viewer value, and the hype that this sport receives are above the standards set by any sport in India. ‘With great power comes great responsibilities’ – It is a dialogue from a famous Marvel Franchise movie but becomes applicable in cricket. With greater hype and popularity, the stakes are high, and so is the pressure. For young players, handling the pressure of such gravity could be difficult. Though Indian teams perform with a rhythm, this fear of failure in the finals has slowly crept into the psyche of the players and cricket lovers alike. This is a soft spot for the opposition team to hit harder. With planning and observation, this weak point can be easily tackled and thus calls for the fall of fame for the Indian team. Hence, a system should be in place to enable the players to handle the pressure situation.
This could be made practical with the right approach during the practice sessions.
2. Fear of error
With the built-up pressure, the players slowly start fearing they would commit an error. There is no space for error in matches like the finals. The more we try to avoid an error, the more we err. This fear of error has crept into the Indian camps with two consecutive final defeats. Cricket is more of a mind game than a physical game. When we work into something with the fear of making an error, we subconsciously prepare ourselves to commit an error.
Maintaining stamina is the key factor for ensuring that the players are in a good phase of body and mind.
An important factor for reducing errors is the seamless communication between the team members, especially while running between the wickets, and coordination during bowling and fielding.
3. Learn from the rivals
While wondering how Australia can grab all the matches, observing their prematch preparation is imperative. From studying the pitch, the coach and the captain are in unison. Looking deeper into their team selection, they have players with experience in all formats and pitch conditions. They don’t select players merely based on recent performance. The team is known for their determination and resilience. It is also a cultural mindset because this winning drive has been inside the Australians for decades. Australian players are known for their technical know-how. They concentrate on honing their skills, and every time, they devise unpredictable tactics. This has enabled them to take the competitors by surprise. This ability to hide the cards enabled them to become the top cricket team in India and maintain a winning streak.
4. Need for interventions
Cricket is one sport wherein immense pressure exists to win to fulfill the expectations of fans, management, and the media. With huge media attention and sponsorships on board, this can be an added pressure for the players.
The pressure mounted on the players should be relieved with the right intervention of the coaches and psychologists. Though people are already in space, the constant failure to excel in the final moment points us toward an inefficient attempt to motivate the players in the right direction. Their techniques are in place, and team spirit is very high, but the ability to perform under pressure and ensure that the pressure exerted by the media and common people doesn’t get to them is crucial.
5. Indian sentiments
The pressure of Indian sentiments has been paramount for the players for decades.
We had witnessed how Dhoni was celebrated when he grabbed the World Cup and how he was demonized after the next World Cup defeat. This is the majotity Indian mentalitty. A victory makes the player a Godman, and defeat makes him despised. This conflict in mentality is a key reason behind the mounting pressure in the players’ minds. Every player dreads going through the phase that the skipper has gone through. To avoid that nightmare, they invited the inevitable towards them. Every mistake of the player is magnified. This is even more of a worry when the cricketers get entangled in undue controversies, and able and talented cricketers must stay off the pitch until the smoke dies. This could be a rare occurrence, but such instances have had detrimental effects on the team’s psyche.
Cricket lovers should commit themselves to not overcriticizing the players after a defeat. This is an uncertain game. No one would want to face the failure and bring the pain on themselves. It is high time this understanding and awareness is created among the masses. The external pressure will exacerbate the players’ resolve, and thus, it will affect the game adversely.
6. The political jugglery
The involvement of politics in cricket is no longer a secret. We have seen immensely talented players being sidelined while mediocre players are given chances repeatedly. For their vested interests, some parties in the management put the game and the investment associated with it at stake. Post the finals, discussions would be rife about how the results would be swayed if this person was given a chance in the group. These discussions should be held proactively to take down such vested interests and bring genuine talent to the eleven.
India has a pool of talent, but real talent is when you are unruffled under pressure. These young boys have immense potential in the future, and hence, this could be counted as a learning lesson for them, using which we can prepare this army of boys in blue for being the men in blue and for the men in blue to be legends of the era. It is imperative to address each matter that could be detrimental to the sport and act as an obstacle to an undefeated moment. With the right support, resilience, determination, and fire in the heart, these players still stand a chance to grab the cup and make the whole country proud. Experts say that the future is bright for India as the pool of talent at our dispersal is unparalleled. In the coming years, the team will emerge stronger and more equipped to meet the challenges with the right interventions and corrective steps.
In conclusion, the Indian cricket team’s failures in the World Cup finals reflect the complex dynamics of the sport and the immense pressure placed on players. India has a rich cricketing heritage. We have a talent pool, but success in World Cup finals is still a far cry for them. The reasons behind these failures are multifaceted. The reasons could be unbelievable, from performance anxiety and mental pressure to strategic errors and bad luck. Despite the disappointment of these defeats, it’s essential to recognize the efforts and dedication of the players who have represented the nation with pride and passion. Moving forward, the Indian cricket team must learn from these experiences, address any underlying issues, and strive for improvement in all aspects of the game. Cricket is a sport filled with highs and lows, and success is often as much about the journey as it is about the destination. With determination, hard work, and a commitment to continuous improvement, India can overcome its World Cup final hurdles and achieve glory on cricket’s grandest stage in the future.
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