"Tension Lene Ka Nahi, Tension Dene Ka": Robin Uthappa Shares India's Mantra For 2007 T20 World Cup Win

Indian batsman Robin Uthappa recalled India’s 2007 T20 World Cup victorious campaign.

India won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup against Pakistan by five runs in the final match in Johannesburg.

Robin Uthappa shares India’s mantra for the 2007 T20 World Cup

Uthappa, who scored 113 runs in that tournament, said that India’s mantra, given by then-head coach Lalchand Rajput, was not to take stress but pass it on to the opposition.

“Tension lene ka nahi, tension dene ka’ was our mantra. It had started as a joke between players and it grew into a lovely culture. Lalu ji, our coach, would tell it to the players, Uthappa wrote in his coulmn for The Indian Express.

It was always about taking just one game at a time: Robin Uthappa

India had defeated Pakistan in the league stage as well, where the match went to bowl-outs after the scores were tied.

Uthappa was one of the three bowlers who hit the target during the bowl-out round.

Uthappa also shared behind the scenes about players relaxing off the pitch and how he was eased when they made it to the semi-finals.

“I fondly remember the non-match evenings we spent together. We would go to local Nandos and I would always order half chicken and peri-peri fries. Most nights, six-seven of us would gather in a room—it could be Mahi’s (MS Dhoni) room one night, Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh pa’s or mine or that of Piyush (Chawla) or RP Singh the other night. Players would keep dropping in and out.

“It was always about taking just one game at a time until we reached the semifinals. Then we knew we were just two games away from winning this. It was then, at least to me, that it sank in us that we could win this. I was happy that I could contribute properly in many matches,” he further added.

Uthappa also scored 50 runs against Pakistan in the league game and had a 84-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh in the semi-final match against Australia.

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