practical virat
   Date :17-Jun-2019

 
EVEN as there was a huge build-up over, what was billed as the biggest rivalry on cricket field, the India-Pakistan clash in the ongoing Cricket World Cup, Indian Captain Virat Kohli seems to have taken some leaves from Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s book when he coolly told reporters in a pre-match press conference that the tournament does not end with one game against Pakistan. Thereby he calmly conveyed that he and his team were under no pressure that has been building up over the clash in the past few weeks. While there is no doubt that the Indian team will be thoroughly tested during such clashes throughout the tournament, the captain and the team are well prepared to face challenges that are bound to come during the course of the entire tournament.
 
And that was on full display during the tie against Australia when the Indian bowlers retained their composure to ensure that the good work of batsmen did not go waste. The Indo-Pak clash is no empty hype, as whenever the two teams have come face-to-face with each other they have produced some of the best of all-round cricket because of the intensity of the rivalry which has its roots, not so much in matters sporting. On several occasions some of these ties have ended on unpleasant note, which the players appear to be unable to avoid because of the heat of the moment. But some of the encounters between the two have produced memorable exploits from both sides and that has made these clashes cherishable. What is very interesting about these encounters between the two neighbouring rivals is that cricketing pundits all over the world have their own missives to both the teams on how to tame whom and when and how to use a particular bowler to pin down the rival.
 
For instance, on the eve of the mother of all clashes, former Pakistani Captain Wasim Akram had advised his country’s bowlers to expose the Indian middle order, which cricketing experts believe is a soft spot in the Indian batting line-up. It is then that the Indian batting becomes vulnerable. Former Captain Sourav Ganguly, on the other hand, has advised the Indian team to be cautious and not be under the illusion that they are the favourites. Such comments make these encounters between the two arch rivals all the more interesting. But during the pre-match press conference Kohli was his pragmatic best when he said that his eyes were more focused on the bigger picture, winning the world cup and not just one game. This approach of the Captain is more reassuring for the rest of the tournament whatever the outcome of the tie against Pakistan, notwithstanding the external pressure, that no doubt is tremendous.