India lacks ability to handle pressure in crucial games: Gautam Gambhir

[Abdullah719]

New Delhi: Former opener Gautam Gambhir feels Indian players lack "mental toughness" to handle pressure in crunch situations and cannot call themselves world champions unless they prove themselves in big-ticket tournaments like the World Cup.

India won the ODI World Cup twice in 1983 and 2011 but have been knocked out in the semifinal stage in four editions, including the last two editions in 2015 and 2019. In T20 World Cups, India had triumphed in the inaugural edition in 2007 and reached the finals in 2014.

"What sets you apart from being a good player to being a very very good player in a team squad is what you do on those crucial games. I think probably we have not been able to handle the pressure, probably other teams have been able to handle the pressure that way," Gambhir said on Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected'.

"If you look at all the semi-finals and finals, it just shows when playing really well in the league stage and you don't play well in the semi-finals or knockouts, it's probably your mental toughness as well."

Gambhir, who was part of the 2011 World Cup which the country won after 28 years, said India cannot call themselves world champions unless they prove themselves.

"We can keep talking that we've got everything, we have the ability to be the world champions, but till the time you don't go on the cricket field and prove that, you will never be called the world champions," the 38-year-old said.

"It's just your ability in those crunch situations. In bilaterals and league stages you have got probably a chance to make the mistake, come to knockout stages, you don't have a chance to do that, you make a mistake and you're going back home. That's where beliefs come into play and that where India lacks in all those crucial games."

https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/...-crucial-games-gautam-gambhir-1.1592058922998

 

[Rana]

Well that’s a pretty obvious statement. India would have lost to Pakistan in the Semi Finals of the World Cup also in 2019.

 

[Mamoon]

He is talking nonsense. India have been very unlucky.

WT20 2016 semifinal: Simmons was caught off a no-ball.

Champions Trophy 2017 final: Bumrah no-ball.

World Cup 2019 semifinal: the rain interrupted India’s momentum and allowed New Zealand an extra day to work out a plan to defend a low total on an outfield that had slowed down because of rain.

Without the rain interruption and the match getting postponed to the next day, India would most likely have won.

 

[sweep_shot]

Gambhir has a good point. India seems to choke in semi-final.

 

[Rajdeep]

Gambhir has a good point. India seems to choke in semi-final.

We didnt choke in this semi though

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ndia-2nd-semi-final-icc-champions-trophy-2017

 

[sweep_shot]

We didnt choke in this semi though

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ndia-2nd-semi-final-icc-champions-trophy-2017

LOL!

It was because opponent was Bangladesh.

India choked in 2015 WC semi-final, 2016 World T20 semi-final, and 2019 WC semi-final.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Well that’s a pretty obvious statement. India would have lost to Pakistan in the Semi Finals of the World Cup also in 2019.

Lol
Team that can’t even qualify on its own would defeat India( not to mention who haven’t even beaten India at the Worldcups).

 

[CanadianG00se]

He is talking nonsense. India have been very unlucky.

WT20 2016 semifinal: Simmons was caught off a no-ball.

Champions Trophy 2017 final: Bumrah no-ball.

World Cup 2019 semifinal: the rain interrupted India’s momentum and allowed New Zealand an extra day to work out a plan to defend a low total on an outfield that had slowed down because of rain.

Without the rain interruption and the match getting postponed to the next day, India would most likely have won.

It’s combination of luck and also skills. Blame entirely lies with team management for not able to build a team for WC. Despite the obvious, there was no reason to retain Dhoni who have been liability.
Lack of finishers also hurting team India terribly. Likes of Pants, Kedhar Jadhav are horrible and should he dispose for good.

 

[Hasan123]

He has a point. To lose so many times in knockout games with a majority of the same set of players shows that India do have an issue with handling pressure. It's become a mental thing. Sure they have made messed up with selections, but there is enough proof to say there is an issue with handling pressure.

 

[Hasan123]

He is talking nonsense. India have been very unlucky.

WT20 2016 semifinal: Simmons was caught off a no-ball.

Champions Trophy 2017 final: Bumrah no-ball.

World Cup 2019 semifinal: the rain interrupted India’s momentum and allowed New Zealand an extra day to work out a plan to defend a low total on an outfield that had slowed down because of rain.

Without the rain interruption and the match getting postponed to the next day, India would most likely have won.

Lol it's funny how you always have excuses for India and England. I can't remember in all my time on PP where you have not made an excuse for an Indian and English defeat.

 

[Hasan123]

Funny how [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] doesn't talk about how lucky India were that Kohli played an innings of the century against Australia in the World T20 2016, and how Bangladesh choked in the same tournament. India were very lucky to be in the semis in that tournament.

In the 2019 WC, India were faltering slowly before that semi. The conditions and situation was the same for both sides. You say India are this elite side, if they are as good as you say they should have been able to overcome that.

 

[Rajdeep]

LOL!

It was because opponent was Bangladesh.

India choked in 2015 WC semi-final, 2016 World T20 semi-final, and 2019 WC semi-final.

I was kidding and agree with the larger point you are trying to make. India has been poor in pressure knockout games recently.

But there has also been some bad luck associated with it. We all agree that chasing in pressure games is much tougher than setting a target. India has found themselves in tricky chases in most of those games.

WC Semi 2015 - No team in the world would have chased that target in SCG under lights against a rampaging Starc, Johnson and Hazelwood.

Semi final 2017 CT - Pak got it easy batting first. Not many teams would have chased down that target against Amir and co. Had India batted first, who knows result could have been like 4th june group game.

WC Semi 2019 - Tricky chase, overnight rain.

I just hope we bat first next time we play a pressure knockout/final match.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Funny how [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] doesn't talk about how lucky India were that Kohli played an innings of the century against Australia in the World T20 2016, and how Bangladesh choked in the same tournament. India were very lucky to be in the semis in that tournament.

In the 2019 WC, India were faltering slowly before that semi. The conditions and situation was the same for both sides. You say India are this elite side, if they are as good as you say they should have been able to overcome that.

No it wasn’t. Batting become even more difficult the next day with rain and moisture. Outfield slowed down significantly as well. But that doesn’t take away the fact that Indian team were pretty poor and failed in yet another KO game.

 

[Hasan123]

No it wasn’t. Batting become even more difficult the next day with rain and moisture. Outfield slowed down significantly as well. But that doesn’t take away the fact that Indian team were pretty poor and failed in yet another KO game.

The game still stopped for New Zealand.

Using that as an excuse is just pretty pathetic to me. Mamoon was dreaming and predicting an India vs England final. So I'm not surprised he is making excuses for India.

 

[Mamoon]

Funny how [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] doesn't talk about how lucky India were that Kohli played an innings of the century against Australia in the World T20 2016, and how Bangladesh choked in the same tournament. India were very lucky to be in the semis in that tournament.

In the 2019 WC, India were faltering slowly before that semi. The conditions and situation was the same for both sides. You say India are this elite side, if they are as good as you say they should have been able to overcome that.

How is Kohli playing a masterclass India’s luck? He is one of the greatest players of all time, and he was made in India.

It would have been lucky if Australia would have dismissed him off a no-ball. It was a clean innings and down to his skill and not luck.

But India have been really unlucky in big matches recently. Things have not gone their way at all.

 

[CanadianG00se]

The game still stopped for New Zealand.

Using that as an excuse is just pretty pathetic to me. Mamoon was dreaming and predicting an India vs England final. So I'm not surprised he is making excuses for India.

To be fair everyone was, if the match wasn’t interrupted with rain, we might have got to see it. But looking at Team India, even on non rainy day, we would’ve still lost the game. Kohli just doesn’t know how to build team for LOIs.

 

[Hasan123]

How is Kohli playing a masterclass India’s luck? He is one of the greatest players of all time, and he was made in India.

It would have been lucky if Australia would have dismissed him off a no-ball. It was a clean innings and down to his skill and not luck.

But India have been really unlucky in big matches recently. Things have not gone their way at all.

Because innings like that don't happen every time. I am convinced that India would have lost that game if Kohli didn't play that knock. Won't say it's luck but knocks like that don't happen everyday.

 

[Hasan123]

To be fair everyone was, if the match wasn’t interrupted with rain, we might have got to see it. But looking at Team India, even on non rainy day, we would’ve still lost the game. Kohli just doesn’t know how to build team for LOIs.

I wouldn't solely blame Kohli for the losses. BCCI selectors have a say in selection and they are really bad at times.

 

[Mamoon]

Because innings like that don't happen every time. I am convinced that India would have lost that game if Kohli didn't play that knock. Won't say it's luck but knocks like that don't happen everyday.

I wouldn’t call that luck. There was nothing fluke about that innings. Kohli is the GOAT chaser and he has pulled of such miracles multiple times in white ball cricket.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Well this statement is coming from someone who actually played two match winning innings in the finals of 2 World Cups so it should be taken seriously by fans.

 

[BreadPakoda]

He’s right.

Ps. 2015 Semi final loss wasn’t a choke. India needed a lot of luck to defeat the Ozzies in their backyard. Not long before, India had been decimated in all formats down under.

 

[Smudger]

He is talking nonsense. India have been very unlucky.

WT20 2016 semifinal: Simmons was caught off a no-ball.

Champions Trophy 2017 final: Bumrah no-ball.

World Cup 2019 semifinal: the rain interrupted India’s momentum and allowed New Zealand an extra day to work out a plan to defend a low total on an outfield that had slowed down because of rain.

Without the rain interruption and the match getting postponed to the next day, India would most likely have won.

India have not been unlucky at all. The no balls you are talking about happened because they where under pressure and not because someone pushed them to overstep. Now lets analyse ct 17 final, wc 15 semi and wc19 semi
Ct 17: Fakhar Zaman got out on a no ball was unlucky for India but Virat was also given a chance in the same match but as usual he could not handle the pressure.
Wc 19: India were given a relatively small target but again its top three could'nt handle the pressure. The conditions did'nt changed much as Jadeja of all the people fired in the match. And one incident that summed up India's nervousness was when virat fished at a ball way outside the stumps. Nasir Hussain remarked This is the shot that you play when you just started playing cricket.
Wc15 : nothing to mention here Australia were just too strong. But India's nervousness was evident when it conceded 40 off the last 3 overs to Mitchel Johnson of all peole

 

[Ahmed216]

He is talking nonsense. India have been very unlucky.

WT20 2016 semifinal: Simmons was caught off a no-ball.

Champions Trophy 2017 final: Bumrah no-ball.

World Cup 2019 semifinal: the rain interrupted India’s momentum and allowed New Zealand an extra day to work out a plan to defend a low total on an outfield that had slowed down because of rain.

Without the rain interruption and the match getting postponed to the next day, India would most likely have won.

This man thinks India are a team of superhumans or at least wants us to believe so

 

[Indiafan]

This is where the captain matters the most. there is a reason we won so many cups under Dhoni while we dont under kohli in similar situations. Ganguly also was a lot like kohli, always losing the final

For almost every big cup a team has won you will see how the captain mattered. For example am sure 2017 CT cup would have been lost under Misbah and Sarfraz played a key role

Captains knowing how to win big cups are worth their weight in gold even if they cant contribute in other cricketing aspects

 

[King_Kohli]

Agree with Gambhir

 

[Mesozoic]

If we had a clutch player in the team like GG from 2014-2019, we'd have most likely won atleast 2 of the 5 events.

Dhawan is the closest thing to a clutch player we have right now and guess what ? He did not feature in 3 of the 4 chokes we had since 2014. I won't consider 2015 Semi against Oz a choke. We lost to a much superior team at their home.

 

[Ab Fan]

Gambhir is absolutely correct.

A team management that sends Hardik Pandya ahead of MS Dhoni when the team is reeling at 25-4 in pursuit of chasing 240 doesn't deserve to win the World Cup.

It was the most comical decision in 2019 World Cup and Indian team had to pay for that. What is absymal is that even though we strengthened our batting in that match with Jadeja batting at 8 and playing a masterclass, yet a target of 240 turned out to be enough for Kane's team.

This team simply doesn't have the nerve of steels and will continue to choke unless their captain learns to win big games for his team.

 

[Abdullah719]

Need better planning to succeed at ICC events: Irfan Pathan

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Sunday said Team India needs better planning before heading into ICC tournaments which has been elusive for some time now. "If you look at the recent 2019 (World Cup) tournament, it was bad planning, I think the team can do better planning," Irfan said on Star Sports' show Cricket Connected.

"Look, we have resources. We have players, we have fitness, we have everything to be a world champion. The only thing lacking, is that we did not have a No.4 batsmen just before the World Cup as well. We were struggling with having a proper eleven.

"I think we need to make sure that we have better planning going into the ICC tournaments, going into the World Cup. If we have better planning we have all the resources to be a champion," added the 35-year old who has played 120 ODIs and 29 Tests for India.

India last won an ICC event in 2013 when M.S. Dhoni led the side to win the Champions Trophy in England. Since then, they have entered the semi-finals of both the 50-overs World Cups but lost there. Similarly, they lost to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2017 final.

One of the problems with the 'Men in Blue' in the recent ICC events has been their inability to take their momentum of the league stage into the knockouts. For instance, in the 2019 World Cup, Virat Kohli's men had topped the league stage but they faltered in the semi-final against New Zealand.

Former opener Gautam Gambhir has also said the current Indian team lacks belief while playing in the knockout stages of multilateral tournaments and that's why they end up on the losing side while playing in the semi-finals and finals.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...-to-succeed-at-icc-events-irfan-pathan/606306

 

[IAJ]

He is talking nonsense. India have been very unlucky.

WT20 2016 semifinal: Simmons was caught off a no-ball.

Champions Trophy 2017 final: Bumrah no-ball.

World Cup 2019 semifinal: the rain interrupted India’s momentum and allowed New Zealand an extra day to work out a plan to defend a low total on an outfield that had slowed down because of rain.

Without the rain interruption and the match getting postponed to the next day, India would most likely have won.

Completely agree with you. But you need to bring forth the results from 70s up till now and you will see that India should have won all the Word Cups.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Well that’s a pretty obvious statement. India would have lost to Pakistan in the Semi Finals of the World Cup also in 2019.

Pakistan lacked the ability to even qualify for the semis .

 

[Rana]

Pakistan lacked the ability to even qualify for the semis .

Pakistan would have beaten India in the 2019 semi finals. Do what you want about it!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan would have beaten India in the 2019 semi finals. Do what you want about it!

Same Pakistan that got massacred by India and WI and only beat England because of afeez's chucking. Yeah sure )

 

[Rana]

Same Pakistan that got massacred by India and WI and only beat England because of afeez's chucking. Yeah sure )

Yes that same Pakistan would have beaten choker India in the Semi finals

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Yes that same Pakistan would have beaten choker India in the Semi finals

Ok Rana bro. We know Pakistan have won every hypothetical encounter we have had. Just need to replicate on the field now .

 

[Rana]

Ok Rana bro. We know Pakistan have won every hypothetical encounter we have had. Just need to replicate on the field now .

Well what a shame, 2019 was a big opportunity.

 

[Mamoon]

Champions Trophy winners Pakistan would have smashed India in the 2018 Asia Cup without Kohli.

Too bad those matches actually happened.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

If we had a clutch player in the team like GG from 2014-2019, we'd have most likely won atleast 2 of the 5 events.

Dhawan is the closest thing to a clutch player we have right now and guess what ? He did not feature in 3 of the 4 chokes we had since 2014. I won't consider 2015 Semi against Oz a choke. We lost to a much superior team at their home.

Why was rahane opening for India in 2014 wt20? Makes no sense. Maybe dhawan was injured?

 

[Rana]

Man, such a shame we couldn’t get through with our run at the end and face India in the semis. Gaurenteed ticket to the final that under Kohli’s captaincy

 

[Rana]

Champions Trophy winners Pakistan would have smashed India in the 2018 Asia Cup without Kohli.

Too bad those matches actually happened.

Here is the man who claimed Bangladesh has beaten Pakistan in all important matches (citing Asia cup win) after Pakistan man handled them when the world was watching in 2019.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Man, such a shame we couldn’t get through with our run at the end and face India in the semis. Gaurenteed ticket to the final that under Kohli’s captaincy

Thing is, sarfraz Mickey and inzamam would have stayed if we got to the semis or finals.

 

[Rana]

Thing is, sarfraz Mickey and inzamam would have stayed if we got to the semis or finals.

That’s a compromise I am willing to make if it meant we won our 2019 World Cup.

 

[Mesozoic]

Why was rahane opening for India in 2014 wt20? Makes no sense. Maybe dhawan was injured?

Nope. Was dropped for poor showings in the group stage. And they replaced him with Rahane.

 

[Mesozoic]

Lol at Pakistan would have surely beaten India in the semis.

I agree after the India game, their performance surely improved but you have to keep in mind that 3 out of those four wins came against Ban, Afg (that too due to an umpiring blunder) and a hopeless SAF team. Besides, the SF was at the same old Trafford where India handed mauled Pak in the group stage.

 

[Mamoon]

Here is the man who claimed Bangladesh has beaten Pakistan in all important matches (citing Asia cup win) after Pakistan man handled them when the world was watching in 2019.

It is a fact that the Pakistan vs Bangladesh World Cup match was an inconsequential dead-rubber.

Since 2015 World Cup, Bangladesh have won all the important ODIs.

 

[andy0204]

Nope. Was dropped for poor showings in the group stage. And they replaced him with Rahane.

When Bahane first came to scene everyone thought he was the next big thing after Sachin,now he has become Sanjay Manjrekar 2.0.

 

[Hitman]

Lol at Pakistan would have surely beaten India in the semis.

I agree after the India game, their performance surely improved but you have to keep in mind that 3 out of those four wins came against Ban, Afg (that too due to an umpiring blunder) and a hopeless SAF team. Besides, the SF was at the same old Trafford where India handed mauled Pak in the group stage.

Let them amuse themselves with their victories in the hypothetical world

 

[Rana]

It is a fact that the Pakistan vs Bangladesh World Cup match was an inconsequential dead-rubber.

Since 2015 World Cup, Bangladesh have won all the important ODIs.

I suppose Pakistan beat New Zealand, England and South Africa in inconsequential World Cup matches also whilst losing to them in most high profile bilaterals?

 

[Mesozoic]

When Bahane first came to scene everyone thought he was the next big thing after Sachin,now he has become Sanjay Manjrekar 2.0.

He is still a decent test player though and I genuinely think if used correctly would have been a valuable middle order batsman in ODIs.

But it was absolutely brainless from our TM to even select him for the T20 squad let alone playing him in the 11 for a WT20 semi final.

 

[andy0204]

He is still a decent test player though and I genuinely think if used correctly would have been a valuable middle order batsman in ODIs.

But it was absolutely brainless from our TM to even select him for the T20 squad let alone playing him in the 11 for a WT20 semi final.

You are right he would have been a valuable middle order batsman in ODIs but in tests I don't think so,this man can't even play spin,useless at home tours unless there is a toothless attack coming and even in abroad he plays only one or two decent knock then fails.

 

[Mamoon]

I suppose Pakistan beat New Zealand, England and South Africa in inconsequential World Cup matches also whilst losing to them in most high profile bilaterals?

If it makes you happy you can say that Pakistan has the bragging rights against South Africa and New Zealand for now.

England probably couldn’t care less because they are world champions.

 

[Rana]

If it makes you happy you can say that Pakistan has the bragging rights against South Africa and New Zealand for now.

England probably couldn’t care less because they are world champions.

For now? South Africa and New Zealand never beat us when it actually matters. Whilst Pakistan is historically a better limited overs cricket team in comparison to England.

But I guess Asia cup is the biggest event of them all.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Nope. Was dropped for poor showings in the group stage. And they replaced him with Rahane.

LOL, that's such a blunder. After some checking I found out that India did the exact same thing in the 2016 World T20 - they dropped Dhawan for the SF vs WI and had Rahane open. Literally made that selection 2 world cups in a row .

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

He is talking nonsense. India have been very unlucky.

WT20 2016 semifinal: Simmons was caught off a no-ball.

Champions Trophy 2017 final: Bumrah no-ball.

World Cup 2019 semifinal: the rain interrupted India’s momentum and allowed New Zealand an extra day to work out a plan to defend a low total on an outfield that had slowed down because of rain.

Without the rain interruption and the match getting postponed to the next day, India would most likely have won.

India may have bowled one no-ball each to Simmons and Fakhar but then what about the rest of the overs? Looks a weak argument from your side.

WT20 2016 - If not Simmons, the other power hitters would have gunned down the total. Basically India played very slowly relying on singles, doubles and struggled to reach 190 on a flattt Wankhade pitch where previously England chased down 230 odd against South Africa without breaking sweat. Now you're playing against West indies!! Come on, show more intent!

CT 2017 - Fakhar's let off indeed was massive in the game. But what have Bumrah and co done after the let off? NOTHING. ok take this for example. Azhar dropped a dolly from Kohli when he was on 5. Pakistan didn't go back and sulk like India did for the rest of the match or the next 2 years. The very next ball Amir came back, produced the edge, and dismantled Kohli again. That's what teams that want to win will do. They create more chances after a set back.

WC 2019 - NZ indeed had an advantage to work out a plan to defend their total. But were India fielding school kids who were playing like headless chickens out there? Didn't they also have the advantage of analysing the conditions for an entire day and come back and play accordingly? You can't argue both ways. Decide for yourself.

 

[MenInG]

Former opening batsman Gautam Gambhir reckons England all-rounder Ben Stokes is in a league of his own and that based on his current form, no player from India or from any other part of the world is anywhere even close to him.

Earlier this week, Stokes pipped Jason Holder to take the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for all-rounders on the back of his performance in the second Test in Manchester. Stokes scored a century in the first innings, followed by a quick-fire fifty in the second, and took three wickets. This was after he had grabbed six wickets in Southampton and scored 46 and 43 in the two innings.

“You can’t compare anyone in India at the moment with Ben Stokes,” Gambhir said on the Cricket Connected Show on Star Sports. “Absolutely not, because Ben Stokes is in his own league. What he has done in Test cricket, what he has done in one-day cricket, what he has done in T20 cricket, I don’t think so there’s anyone, let alone in India, there isn’t anyone who’s even close to him in world cricket at the moment. And that is the kind of impact player you need in every line-up.”

Stokes has been on a hot streak for England over the last summer. Last year, he led England to a World Cup win with a match-winning performance in the final against New Zealand and in less than two months’ time, Stokes shepherded one of England’s most memorable Test wins against Australia in the Ashes. Trailing 0-1, Stokes scored a scintillating 135 not out, helping England chase down 359 to level the series. At 286/9, Australia were favourites to bowl England out but Stokes put on an unbeaten 76-run stand for the final wicket which took England home.

Gambhir said even though there are players who would be eager to do the kind of things Stokes has been able to achieve, at the moment, he can think of none. Calling the all-rounder a captain’s dream, Gambhir showed his admiration towards Stokes by hailing him as a leader. “It would be a dream for every captain to have someone like Ben Stokes – whether he’s batting, whether he’s bowling, whether he’s fielding – and he’s a leader in his own capacity,” Gambhir said.

“You don’t have to be a leader to be a leader, you don’t need to be called a captain to be a captain. You can be a leader by your own performances as well. So, I think there are a lot of guys would be actually looking to be like Ben Stokes, but unfortunately, there’s no one at the moment in world cricket.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...tam-gambhir/story-FG8aeLcDrHA9WGRdnnScaJ.html