The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was a momentous occasion for Indian cricket, etching unforgettable memories in the hearts of fans across the nation. Under the astute leadership of Captain MS Dhoni, the Indian team clinched the coveted trophy, but the path to glory held a unique secret weapon – a rule set by the then-coach Gary Kirsten. In this article, we delve into the intriguing revelation made by veteran cricketer Harbhajan Singh, shedding light on the unconventional rule laid down by Kirsten that played a crucial role in India’s triumph at the 2011 World Cup.
Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recollected a valuable piece of advice from Team India’s head coach, Gary Kirsten, which proved instrumental in shielding the players from media pressure during the 2011 World Cup. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, the team managed to conquer the immense weight of expectations as they played on home soil, ultimately emerging as champions in 2011. Fast forward 12 years, and the Indian cricket team finds themselves in a familiar situation, entering the 2023 World Cup in India as strong favorites. However, the landscape has evolved significantly since 2011, with the prevalence of social media adding to the pressure on players. Harbhajan’s counsel to the team included staying away from social media on their mobile devices as a strategy to cope with the pressures of a World Cup being hosted at home.
“Those times (2011) were different. You could get away by not reading newspapers. Now, everything is there on social media. Gary Kirsten had set up a rule and asked us not to read newspapers,” said bhajji.
“If you don’t perform well on a particular day, you will see what people will do on social media. I would advise players to stay away from social media. Don’t see your phones for the next two months,” added Harbhajan. Harbhajan Singh played a crucial part in India’s victories in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
India’s 2011 World Cup triumph stands as their solitary ICC title achieved on home turf, with a memorable victory over Sri Lanka in the final match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. On their journey to clinching the trophy, Team India also managed to overcome formidable opponents, including the three-time defending champions, Australia, in the quarter-final, and their arch-rivals, Pakistan, in the semi-final.
Gavaskar’s Advice and Kohli’s Appeal for the 2023 World Cup
Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar addressed the significant ticket-related pressure faced by players during a home World Cup and advised them to focus on their game despite the distractions. Earlier today, star batsman Virat Kohli took to his Instagram handle to appeal to fans not to request tickets for the upcoming World Cup in India. Notably, Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin are the only two Indian players who have been part of both the 2011 and 2023 World Cups on home soil.
Gavaskar also reminisced about how Sachin Tendulkar used to wear headphones to shield himself from the external noise and the accompanying pressure during such high-stakes tournaments.
“You cannot avoid pressure. When you order room-service, they might ask for tickets. Someone might ask you about a hundred in the next game. Block youself from everything which is not going to be easy. Sachin Tendulkar had headphones on so he could not hear anyone,” he said.
“They would all be wishing him but the chatter of a hundred could add to the pressure. It’s not easy to do that in your room but you can block yourself when you go out,” added Gavaskar.
India has grappled with the burden of high expectations in ICC events over the past ten years, with their most recent triumph occurring in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Their 2023 World Cup journey begins with a formidable encounter against the five-time champions, Australia, in Chennai on Sunday, October 8, setting the stage for a high-pressure contest.
