Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag stated that every ODI match will be crucial for the Indian cricket team ahead of the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023 at home. Sehwag stated that the upcoming ODI series should be treated as knockout games in preparation for the upcoming marquee tournament.
The Rohit Sharma-led team India is widely regarded as one of the favorites in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 because of the advantage of playing on home soil. The Indian cricket team will be making every possible effort to end their trophy drought. The last time team India won an ICC trophy was in the year 2013 under the guidance of MS Dhoni.
Virender Sehwag Offers Advice To Team India Ahead Of ODI World Cup 2023
Meanwhile, speaking at the scheduled launch event on Tuesday, Sehwag recalled the memories of the 2011 World Cup win and discussed how the team prepared themselves for the major tournament. He said:
“When Gary Kirsten came in as our coach in 2008, we were three years away from the World Cup. But for those three years, we took every game like a knockout game and went on to win most of the tournaments and bilateral series, thinking that we will have to win each and every game,”
Further, Sehwag said that the Indian cricket team should treat every ODI match from hereon as a knockout game. He said:
“I think from today if India takes every ODI like a knockout game, it will be easier for them when they actually reach the knockouts of the World Cup. That mindset will take the pressure off in the knockouts…”
Virender Sehwag also praised Rahul Dravid‘s coaching style and stated that the team reached the WTC Final under his tenure. Sehwag concluded by saying that the players have to perform on the field to get the desired results. He said:
“Similarly, Rahul Dravid knows how to manage his players and get the best out of them. Once the player hits the ground, if he performs well then the coach gets appreciated. But if he fails, then the coach gets slammed,”
He added: “We reached the WTC final, but nobody is talking about the fact that reaching the final twice in a row itself is a big deal. But we are all talking about the defeats and questioning Dravid.
He’s been an outstanding player, but as a coach, he does not go out there and play, it’s up to the players. School kaa naam teachers nahi banate, bachhe banate hai jo wahan se padke jaate hai (A school is known for its students, not teachers) and achieve success,”
