Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has advised Team India to play fearless cricket if they want to end the long title drought at major International Cricket Council (ICC) events.
Recenyly, India suffered a crushing defeat at the World Test Championship (WTC) final as they succumbed against Australia at The Oval.
With this loss at the WTC Final, India’s prolonged hunt for their first ICC title since 2013 continues as after it, India featured in four semifinals and four finals of major ICC events but failed to cross the final hurdle.
“In the last 10 years, they played four finals. It’s not that they’ve been absolutely poor. They have just not won the big finals, hopefully that will happen. As someone who has seen Indian cricket closely. My only advice is to play without fear when you get to these big moments. Sometimes you have to take the hard decisions,” Ganguly told India Today.
When asked if the Indian team struggles due to tentativeness in big knockout matches, Ganguly said that Rohit Sharm and Rahul Dravid needs to play fearless cricket.
“Maybe at times there is a bit of a different thought but that’s what I feel watching from outside and I say that with respect that just go and play,” the former BCCI chief said.
“The T20 World Cup semi-final also against England in Adelaide… They should have hit it and that’s the mindset Rahul and Rohit need to get we have a World Cup in six months. I feel this is a very strong team but the execution has to be fearless,” he added.
Notably, India is all set to host the 2023 ODI World Cup in October and November and it will be a massive opportunity for the Rohit Sharma-led side to end the ICC title drought.