Abhinav Bindra’s rousing pep talk for India ahead of World Cup semifinal against New Zealand: ‘Crisis? That’s just another word for I’m about to make hory’ | Cricket-world-cup News
After 45 games at the 2023 ODI World Cup, it’s time for the business end of the marquee tournament. For India, who won all nine of their league stage games, it’s New Zealand again in the semifinals. The team that had knocked them out of the previous edition of the tournament.
The two teams will lock horns at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday and ahead of the big contest, Rohit Sharma and Co have been offered words of wisdom from the Beijing Olympics gold medal Abhinav Bindra.
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Taking to his X account on Monday, Bindra wrote a message for Team India on handling pressure against a team that has got the better of the team very often in ICC tournament knockouts.
“Remember, the present moment is like a perfect shot – it’s all you’ve got. Stay in it. Your routine is your ritual – it’s what turns pressure into performance. Stick to it, but don’t be afraid to throw in a googly and adapt when the situation demands,” Bindra wrote.Most Read
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“Crisis? That’s just another word for ‘I’m about to make hory’. So when the going gets tough, the tough don’t just get going, they dig deep and build a skyscraper right there. Lastly, pressure is like your shadow in the afternoon sun – it might look big, but it’s not heavier than a cricket ball. Don’t run from it. Embrace it, high-five it, and you’ll learn to dance with it on the pitch. So go ahead, knock it out of the park, but remember, if you find yourself in a sticky wicket, there’s nothing that a deep breath and a calm head can’t fix,” he added.
While India did best New Zealand early in the tournament, claiming a four wicket win in Dharamsala, the men in blue have a dismal record against the Black Caps in world tournaments over the past 20 years – just one win from six meetings across all formats.
India have also had a streak of failure in ICC events since their triumph at the 2013 Champions Trophy, having lost eight knockout fixtures since.
