Commencing their journey within the Asia Cup, India are scheduled to interact in a high-profile encounter towards Pakistan on Saturday in Pallekele. Notably, these two historic rivals are anticipated to cross paths once more within the later phases of the event.
“I don’t think there’s any other cricket team in the world which is under as much pressure of expectations than the Indian team,” Gavaskar stated in Mumbai on the launch of veteran cricket administrator Amrit Mathur’s e-book ‘Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket’.
“Because every match that the team plays, the fans, the followers – not just in India, but across the world – expect and want India to win,” he stated.
“In sport, we all know that sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. The pressure can be telling and I think that’s the kind of pressure the Indian team is currently experiencing with everyone wanting them to win the Asia Cup and the World Cup – which will be held in a month and a bit,” Gavaskar stated.
The former India captain stated followers must be extra “understanding” of the strain conditions that the staff finds itself in.
“This is where, we, as cricket followers, need to show a bit more understanding,” he stated.
“There will be days when the team will not be able to play up to its potential and let us keep our fingers crossed that if these days come, they happen at the league stage and not at the knockout stage,” Gavaskar added.
Gavaskar instructed the gathering on the Brabourne Stadium that “cumulative prayers” can work properly for athletes, prefer it did in case of Neeraj Chopra just a few nights in the past, when he turned the primary Indian ever to win a gold medal at World Athletics Championships.
“With cumulative prayers from all of us, we will be able to pray for India to win not only the World Cup, but also the Asia Cup,” Gavaskar stated.
“As a nation that follows sport, we prayed for Neeraj Chopra to win. We stayed up to be able to watch, we had hearts in our mouth, hoping and praying that he would win and he did.
“This is what I request all of you, to convey to different Indian sports activities lovers to please do this in order that our staff goes on to win each the Asia Cup in addition to the World Cup,” he added.
(With PTI Inputs)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com