mominsaigol
Senior T20I Player
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2021
- Runs
- 17,233
- Post of the Week
- 2
I've noticed a key trend in cricket that whenever expectations are kept on a high, the team and their fans eventually receive a brutal reality check, But whenever Expectations are kept low, Miracles occur.
To best illustrate this, I've come up with a few examples.
Example 1: 2017 Champions Trophy
Pakistan before this tournament Pakistan were ranked no 9, and weren't even suppose to be in the tournament but managed to gain no 8 rank by whitewashing West Indies at the last minute.
After a brutal bashing by India in the opening game, expectations were at an all time low, yet Pakistan managed to not only win CT but also give India an even bigger thrashing then the one Pakistan themselves received in the tournament opener.
Example 2: No 1 Odi Rank for Pakistan in 2023.
In example 1, Expectations were at an all time low, but for example 2 Pakistan had reached no 1 odi rank by beating New Zealand 4-1 in an odi series.
Expectations were sky high with many believing that Pakistan were unstoppable with a fantastic pace trio followed by a world class batting order with 3 of their 7 batters being ranked in the top 10 pdi rankings.
However this was followed by a brutal asia cup thrashing by India, followed by a wc horror show where every team excluding sri lanka, Nedtherlands and Bangladesh as well as a lucky drs break from NZ due to a fakhar special, ended up butchering and battering Pakistan left and right.
Example 3: England vs Pakistan test series
Before the Bangladesh series, Everyone was convinced that Bangladesh would be whitewashed by Pakistan. This was a sentiment even Bangladesh fans shared as they did not believe they could muster a test series victory, yet Bangladesh whitewashed Pakistan.
This led to most people believing that England would whitewash Pakistan yet after a few changes and a pitch geared towards spin was doctored, Pakistan finally mustered their first win at home despite expectations being at an all time low.
Example 4: 2023 WC
After 2 brutal beatdowns at the hands of SA and India, Australia were smackdab at the bottom of the table, Most fans believed that this may be curtains for the team, and yet Australia made a comeback going on their 2nd longest win streak in history.
in the final, a victory speech wasnt even prepared for Australia as everyone believed India would thrash their competitors in the final and yet what followed was a one sided brutal Beatdown. Leading to aussie victory for the 6th time.
Example 5: 2024 WC
The constant bullying Indian fans had recieved for the past 11 years in tournaments had led them to lose all confidence in the event, So much so that even Rohit Sharma hinself started crying when his team reached the final as he himself didnt believe India could win a cup.
yet the side went unbeaten and won, with kohli who was stated to be a passenger managing to pull it off and show up in the final.
My point is, Whenever expectations have been low, The team has proceeded to win a cup or a series, But whenever Expectations have been high, the opposite has happened.
Even recently Indian fans were so in their heads on winning the cup, the possibility of getting thrashed by NZ in a test didn't even occur, yet it happened.
It seems over confidence has always led to a downfall but zero expectations lead to surprising moments on the world of Cricket.
To best illustrate this, I've come up with a few examples.
Example 1: 2017 Champions Trophy
Pakistan before this tournament Pakistan were ranked no 9, and weren't even suppose to be in the tournament but managed to gain no 8 rank by whitewashing West Indies at the last minute.
After a brutal bashing by India in the opening game, expectations were at an all time low, yet Pakistan managed to not only win CT but also give India an even bigger thrashing then the one Pakistan themselves received in the tournament opener.
Example 2: No 1 Odi Rank for Pakistan in 2023.
In example 1, Expectations were at an all time low, but for example 2 Pakistan had reached no 1 odi rank by beating New Zealand 4-1 in an odi series.
Expectations were sky high with many believing that Pakistan were unstoppable with a fantastic pace trio followed by a world class batting order with 3 of their 7 batters being ranked in the top 10 pdi rankings.
However this was followed by a brutal asia cup thrashing by India, followed by a wc horror show where every team excluding sri lanka, Nedtherlands and Bangladesh as well as a lucky drs break from NZ due to a fakhar special, ended up butchering and battering Pakistan left and right.
Example 3: England vs Pakistan test series
Before the Bangladesh series, Everyone was convinced that Bangladesh would be whitewashed by Pakistan. This was a sentiment even Bangladesh fans shared as they did not believe they could muster a test series victory, yet Bangladesh whitewashed Pakistan.
This led to most people believing that England would whitewash Pakistan yet after a few changes and a pitch geared towards spin was doctored, Pakistan finally mustered their first win at home despite expectations being at an all time low.
Example 4: 2023 WC
After 2 brutal beatdowns at the hands of SA and India, Australia were smackdab at the bottom of the table, Most fans believed that this may be curtains for the team, and yet Australia made a comeback going on their 2nd longest win streak in history.
in the final, a victory speech wasnt even prepared for Australia as everyone believed India would thrash their competitors in the final and yet what followed was a one sided brutal Beatdown. Leading to aussie victory for the 6th time.
Example 5: 2024 WC
The constant bullying Indian fans had recieved for the past 11 years in tournaments had led them to lose all confidence in the event, So much so that even Rohit Sharma hinself started crying when his team reached the final as he himself didnt believe India could win a cup.
yet the side went unbeaten and won, with kohli who was stated to be a passenger managing to pull it off and show up in the final.
My point is, Whenever expectations have been low, The team has proceeded to win a cup or a series, But whenever Expectations have been high, the opposite has happened.
Even recently Indian fans were so in their heads on winning the cup, the possibility of getting thrashed by NZ in a test didn't even occur, yet it happened.
It seems over confidence has always led to a downfall but zero expectations lead to surprising moments on the world of Cricket.
