Cricket is a game where a lot of superstition is involved, as is the case with any sport. India, in particular is a very superstitious country and this has extended to the cricketers as well. Here are 5 pre-match rituals of popular cricketers:
Rohit Sharma:
The opening batsman for India is considered one of the most elegant players to have graced the game. His talent is no doubt present and he has been able to make it count, having been accused of throwing away good opportunities in the past.
One of Rohit’s rituals before a game is to get a nice cup of coffee before the game and also ensure that he calls his wife and speaks to her before heading to the team meeting or to the pitch. He also reveals that he puts his right foot into the field first.
Steve Smith:
The Australian captain has risen over the past few years to become one of the best players of his generation. His unorthodox technique has worked for him and allowed him to play his natural, aggressive game when needed.
When asked about his pre-game ritual, Smith said that he loved to go into the ground and get a good it in the nets. This helped him get in the zone before a big game and pump himself up.
Rahul Dravid:
One of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game, Dravid was a player who was known to let his batting do the talking. A resolute figure, it seems that Dravid too, had his own share of superstitions and rituals before a game.
The right hander would ensure that he had a good, filling breakfast before a day’s play and would also keep in touch with the latest happenings on the day of a match by reading the papers.
Sachin Tendulkar:
The greatest batsman to have played the game, Sachin Tendulkar also revealed that he had his own pre-match rituals before a game. He would go nights without sleeping as he would mentally prepare himself for the game.
He would play shots against the various bowlers he would face and then would keep memorizing them till he felt it was perfect. Only then would he proceed to get some rest for himself.
Matthew Hayden:
The big, burly Australian batsman was someone who could punish the best bowlers on his day and he says that his pre-match ritual helped him do the same. He would go onto the middle of a pitch before a game and would try to read it and talk to himself.
He would be left alone during this little practice as he tried to gauge the bowler’s arm length, the speed of the breeze and other things as he did not want to be surprised before a game.
By Rohit Nair
