IND vs PAK: 'No Team Has More Pressure Of Expectations Than India' - Sunil Gavaskar Hopes India Have No Bad Days In Knockouts

Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has admitted that the pressure of expectations on the Indian Cricket Team is higher than any other team in the world. He said that all the fans of the team need to show understanding and stay positive for the team to win the Asia Cup 2023 and the ICC World Cup 2023.

Indian Cricket Team over the period of next two months will be under the radar as they will be plying their trade in the Asia Cup 2023 as well as the ICC World Cup 2023. Since 2013, they haven’t won’t any ICC titles, and with two tournaments being back to back there’ll be great pressure on the team to win.

Team India’s focus will be on the Asia Cup 2023 first. The tournament will begin on 30th August and they will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on 2nd September in Kandy. There are high chances the two teams will meet again and it’s fair to say that it’ll be a great preparation for them for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar said everyone around the world wants Team India to win and that’s the pressure the team have. He feels that the team will be under immense pressure. Speaking at the release of veteran cricket administrator Amrit Mathur’s book ‘Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket’, he explained (as quoted by PTI):

“I don’t think there’s any other cricket team in the world which is under as much pressure of expectations than the Indian team. Because every match that the team plays, the fans, the followers — not just in India, but across the world — expect and want India to win.

“In sport, we all know that sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. The pressure can be telling and I think that’s the kind of pressure the Indian team is currently experiencing with everyone wanting them to win the Asia Cup and the World Cup — which will be held in a month and a bit.”

IND vs PAK: As cricket followers, we need to show a bit more understanding – Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar further said that he wishes that India don’t have any bad days in the knockouts stage and they win both the Asia Cup as well as the World Cup. He cited the example of Neeraj Chopra, saying that like everyone prayed for him, they should pray for the team to win both tournaments.

“This is where, we, as cricket followers, need to show a bit more understanding. There will be days when the team will not be able to play up to its potential and let us keep our fingers crossed that if these days come, they happen at the league stage and not at the knockout stage. With cumulative prayers from all of us, we will be able to pray for India to win not only the World Cup, but also the Asia Cup.

“As a nation that follows sport, we prayed for Neeraj Chopra to win. We stayed up to be able to watch, we had hearts in our mouth, hoping and praying that he would win and he did. This is what I request all of you, to convey to other Indian sports lovers to please do that so that our team goes on to win both the Asia Cup as well as the World Cup,” concluded Sunil Gavaskar.

Asia Cup 2023 will conclude on 17th September and after that ICC World Cup 2023 will begin from 5th October in India. The home conditions will be a big factor for them and they will be favorites to win.