In the world of cricket, India has undeniably been a powerhouse, producing remarkable talents and thrilling moments. However, when it comes to winning on the grandest stages, recent years have seen them falter in the crucial moments – a trend eerily reminiscent of South Africa’s struggles in knockout games.
The 2023 World Cup final against Australia, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, marked yet another heartbreaking chapter for Team India. Despite a dominant performance in the tournament leading up to the final, the Men in Blue fell short once again, raising questions about their ability to handle the pressure of the big stage.
It’s been over a decade since India clinched an ICC trophy, despite coming agonizingly close on multiple occasions. The list of near misses includes semifinal exits in the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups and a humbling defeat in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan. The T20 format hasn’t been kind either, with a loss in the 2014 T20 World Cup final and semifinal exits in 2016 and 2022. Even in the World Test Championship, India reached the finals twice but finished as runners-up both times.
The recurring theme in India’s defeats seems to be a struggle on the mental front. While their cricketing skills are unquestionable, the ability to perform under immense pressure appears to be an obstacle. The 2023 World Cup final showcased this pattern, with a strong Indian team on paper failing to deliver when it mattered the most.
The loss in the final cannot be solely attributed to bad luck. The Indian batting lineup, considered one of the best, crumbled under pressure, with only Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli showing resilience. Bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami started well but couldn’t maintain the intensity, allowing Australia to seize control.
A closer look at India’s track record in crucial ICC games reveals a pattern – a team that enters knockout clashes on the back of stellar performances but falters when expectations are highest. This suggests a mental hurdle, a lack of the required mental resolve to succeed on the biggest stages.
Comparisons with Australia become inevitable, as the Kangaroos, despite not being in their best form leading into the knockout stage, managed to rise to the occasion. Mitchell Starc and captain Pat Cummins delivered when it mattered, showcasing the mental fortitude needed for success in high-pressure situations.
Individual performances in the final also reflected the mental challenge faced by the Indian team. Players like Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, who had a fine tournament, seemed out of sorts in the final. It raises the question of whether India panics before big finals, resulting in a different team taking the field.
The choice of the playing surface in the final further adds to the narrative. The sluggish pitch, seemingly prepared with the opposition in mind, backfired on the hosts. It prompts questions about India’s faith in their own ability and whether they were more concerned about countering Australia than playing to their strengths.
In the aftermath of this heart-wrenching defeat, Indian cricket must introspect and address the underlying mental challenges. The team’s undeniable talent needs to be complemented by mental resilience to overcome the pressure of big-game situations. Only then can India shed the ‘chokers’ tag and script a different ending to their World Cup story.
