Anand Mahindra Reveals The Reason Behind India’s Humiliating Loss Against Pakistan
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:34 PM
Anand Mahindra, the chairman and managing director of Mahindra Group, feels the ‘myth of invincibility’ was a big reason behind Team India’s stunning and humiliating loss at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Defending champions India walked into the final against the lowest-ranked side in the tournament as the firm favourites. Moreover, the way the Men in Blue had blown away Pakistan in their opening game, thrashing them by a whopping margin of 124 runs, everyone had backed them to have a cakewalk in the final.
However, what happened at The Oval on Sunday (June 18) left everyone shell-shocked. Making a mockery of the logic and the predictions, Pakistan thrashed their illustrious opponents, inflicting a humiliating defeat of 180 runs to lay their hands on the coveted trophy for the first time.
After being asked to bat first, Pakistan rode on opener Fakhar Zaman’s maiden ODI century to post a daunting 338 for four in the allotted 50 overs. Zaman and his fellow opener Azhar Ali put on 128 runs for the first wicket, laying the foundation for a big total before Mohammad Hafeez’s 37-ball 57 run knock powered Pakistan to a massive total.
In reply, India went off to a disastrous start with Mohammad Amir wreaking havoc with the new ball. The left-arm pacer dismissed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in his first two overs before accounting for Shikhar Dhawan to leave the Men in Blue reeling at 33 for three. India never recovered from those early setbacks and was eventually out for just 158 runs in the 31st over.
India’s stunning capitulation has left everyone stunned and Anand Mahindra feels Pakistan’s indomitable spirit just like a start-up company and India’s complacency was a big reason behind the result.
Monday morning reflection: The Pak team had the spirit of a Start-up company. They just didn't know what was impossible…
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 19, 2017
Sometimes for companies as well as sports teams, great success is the greatest threat. Brings a disease called the 'Myth of Invincibility'
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 19, 2017