Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has expressed his belief that the Indian cricket team should aim to replicate their success from the 2011 Cricket World Cup and win the upcoming tournament for Virat Kohli. Sehwag’s comments come as the tournament returns to India, where India emerged as champions in 2011.
In 2011, the Indian team clinched the World Cup title on home turf by defeating Sri Lanka in a thrilling final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The tournament was particularly significant as it was expected to be legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s final World Cup, with the team rallying to win the trophy for him in his sixth attempt. Kohli, who was a member of the 2011 squad, carried Tendulkar on his shoulders during the victory lap at the Wankhede Stadium.
Although Kohli has taken over the mantle of leading India’s batting unit since Tendulkar’s retirement, the team has fallen short in their World Cup campaigns, reaching the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019 but failing to progress further. With the upcoming World Cup taking place in India, Sehwag believes that the team should give their all to win the tournament for Kohli, just as they did for Tendulkar in 2011.
Speaking at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 schedule launch event, Sehwag said, “We played that World Cup for Tendulkar. If we won the World Cup, it would have been a great exit for Sachin paaji. Virat Kohli is the same now. Everybody will look to win the World Cup for him. He always gives more than 100 percent.”
Sehwag expressed his excitement about the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan, scheduled to take place on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He highlighted the match as the one he is most eager to witness during the tournament.
When asked about predicting the winner of the India-Pakistan match, Sehwag stated, “I’m not sure what will happen that day, but the team that handles pressure well will win.” He further emphasized that India has become adept at managing pressure, which has contributed to their success against Pakistan in recent years.
According to Sehwag’s semi-final predictions, he believes that India and Pakistan will be among the four teams to qualify, alongside defending champions England and Australia. “If I have to pick four teams—Australia, England, India, and Pakistan— These are the semi-finalists,” Sehwag added.
As the World Cup draws closer, the Indian team, led by Rohit, will aim to channel the spirit and determination that led to their triumph in 2011. The fans’ expectations are high, and the players will strive to deliver a stellar performance, with the ultimate goal of bringing the coveted trophy home once again.
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