Team India Not Scared Of Defeat - Inzamam-ul-Haq Hails India's Mental Strength To Play The Series Despite Unavailability Of Players Due To Covid
Published - 29 Jul 2021, 07:04 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:50 AM
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has lauded Team India for continuing to play the T20I series against Sri Lanka despite missing several players because of a covid-19 outbreak in their bubble.
Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Yuzvendra Chahal, K Gowtham, and Deepak Chahar are the eight players who were quarantined after been deemed as close contacts of Krunal Pandya, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.
The second T20I on Tuesday was postponed to Wednesday, in which India fielded a weakened eleven with only five specialist batsmen and a long tail with Bhuvneshwar Kumar at number 6. However, they still managed to put up a brilliant fight.
“Team India were severely affected due to COVID as eight of their players, apart from Krunal Pandya, were unavailable. They had the option to pull out of the game but decided to go ahead and play the second T20I.
“This proves that Team India are not scared of defeat. When you are not afraid of losing, victory will find its way towards you. They trusted the players who are available to play in the squad. Bhuvneshwar Kumar batted as high as No. 6 since Team India had only five batters,” Inzamam-ul-Haq said in his YouTube video.
“The game of cricket is all about approach. Team India’s playing very strong cricket these days because, mentally, they are ready to face tough challenges. They are sending players to England where injury has hit the Team India camp.
“They lost the 2nd T20I but not without giving a fight. Although they only managed 132 on the board, Sri Lanka won the match with two balls to spare. It was a commendable effort by Team India,” he added.
I will credit Rahul Dravid for Team India’s mental strength: Inzamam-ul-Haq
The 51-year-old further credited India’s tour coach Rahul Dravid for imbuing this mental strength in the players which rendered them to make the “brave decision” to play the series despite facing difficulties in the dressing room.
“I will credit Rahul Dravid for Team India’s mental strength. Correcting techniques of players is one thing but making them mentally strong is another. When teams have such players, it is very difficult for sides to beat them.
“Winning and losing is part and parcel of the game. But I would say it was a brave decision from Team India to play the match despite lack of options available,” the former Pakistani skipper asserted.
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