In a spirited pep talk on the eve of India’s crucial World Cup semi-final clash against New Zealand, former cricketing maestro Virender Sehwag emphasized the importance of playing fearlessly and giving their best, dismissing worries about the outcome.
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is set to witness a high-octane clash between India and New Zealand, and Sehwag, speaking at the ICC Hall of Fame event in Mumbai, shared his straightforward advice for the Men in Blue. “Play fearless, give your best and don’t think about the result. If eleven players will give their best, India will win,” said the belligerent opener.
Sehwag took a moment to laud India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, particularly highlighting his fearless and responsible batting at the top of the order. “He has been playing freely for a long time, but now that he is the captain, he is taking more responsibility to give a good start and score a lot of runs for Team India. And the way he is taking care of Shubman Gill is amazing,” Sehwag expressed when asked about Rohit’s batting and leadership.
Drawing from his own experience, Sehwag emphasized the role of luck in high-stakes knockout games. He reminisced about the 2011 India vs Pakistan semi-final in Mohali, where India defended 260 with a combination of luck and a clinical bowling performance. “You have to play well. You can’t depend on luck all the time, but yes, in knockout games, you need a little bit of luck because I still remember against Pakistan, they scored 260-270, but we had luck on our side and bowlers bowled well to defend the total,” Sehwag recalled.
Rohit Sharma echoed Sehwag’s sentiments in a pre-match press conference, acknowledging the need for some luck to sway in their favor. “Now, the time has come that you need a little bit of luck as well to go your way. Obviously, we’re going to be brave enough. And hopefully, fortune favors the brave,” said the skipper.
As cricket enthusiasts gear up for the intense semi-final showdown, the advice of playing fearlessly resonates not only with the team but also with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome of this high-stakes match.
