'Stay Away From...': Harbhajan Singh Gives Winning Mantra To Team India

image-lnck9qbtHarbhajan Singh won 2011 World Cup [X.com]

Playing cricket for the nation comes with immense pressure and eyeballs, and with the soon-to-start ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, taking place in India, Rohit Sharma and Co. will constantly be bombarded with messages about winning the title. 

Former India spinner, who knows what it takes to lift the World Cup, urged Team India players not to stay connected on social media and leave away their phones for the duration of the tournament. 

Speaking during the India Today conclave, Singh, who was a member of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad, explained how the then coach Gary Kirsten asked all players to refrain from reading newspapers to stay away from media pressure. 


Here's what Harbhajan Singh adviced India

"Those times (2011) were different. You could get away by not reading newspapers. Now, everything is there on social media. Gary Kirsten had set up a rule and asked us not to read newspapers. If you don't perform well on a particular day, you will see what people will do on social media. I would advise players to stay away from social media. Don't see your phones for the next two months."

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also spoke about the pressures of playing in India, which include the ticket pressure as well, where players are asked to provide entry passes.

"You cannot avoid pressure. When you order room-service, they might ask for tickets. Someone might ask you about a hundred in the next game. Block yourself from everything which is not going to be easy. Sachin Tendulkar had headphones on so he could not hear anyone. They would all be wishing him but the chatter of a hundred could add to the pressure. It's not easy to do that in your room but you can block yourself when you go out." 

India begin its WC 2023 campaign against Australia at Chennai on October 8, while the tournament kicks-off today at Ahmedabad, with England facing off New Zealand.