'Don’t Worry About the Knockout Stage': Gavaskar Urges India to Stay in the Present Ahead of England Clash
India is the only unbeaten side in the tournament
As India gears up for a crucial match against the reigning champions England in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has some words of advice for the Men in Blue.
Gavaskar's mantra for India ahead of IND vs ENG clash
Highlighting the importance of staying in the present in a conversation with India Today, Gavaskar has suggested that India should remain focused on the immediate challenge, cautioning against getting distracted by future prospects. He conveyed that victory should be the only target, urging the team to stick to their strengths, especially if it involves chasing.
The Indian veteran further highlighted the significance of concentrating solely on the game against England and not getting too caught up with the pressures of the knockout stage.
“You just want to win. India should just focus on the next match and that’s all. Don’t think too far ahead. If chasing is the way you want to win, then keep doing that. Don’t worry about the knockout stage as of yet. Just think about the England team. Don’t think about the future. The future will take care of itself,” said Gavaskar.
In addition to his strategic guidance, Gavaskar also offered an analysis of England's performance so far in the tournament. He pointed out that England's struggle mainly stems from their inability to make strong starts, both with their batting and bowling.
Observing the overall trend, the erstwhile batter noted that teams which haven't made solid starts in the initial overs have generally found it challenging to set a foundation for their middle-order to build upon.
“The opening, England hasn’t got off to a start. If you look at all the teams that are struggling in this World Cup, none of them have got off to a good start. They've lost a couple of wickets in the first 10 overs. They haven't got a platform for their other batters to come in and blast away in the middle overs. England's problem has been that they haven't got off to a good start with the bat or with the ball,” added the 74-year-old.
The stakes are high for both sides. A win for India would strengthen their chances of securing a berth in the knockout rounds. On the other hand, England, despite their title as the defending champions, needs a consistent winning streak to ensure a spot in the semi-finals because a defeat here will end their chances of making it to the semis.
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