Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has advised the Indian national cricket team to “stay focused on the process and enjoy these moments” for the upcoming Cricket World Cup journey.
England and Wales are ready to host the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup which will run from 30th May to 14th July. Tendulkar feels that the Cricket World Cup is the biggest tournament for a cricketer’s life.
Tendulkar recently told TOI, “Representing the nation is the highest honour and to play the world cup is possibly the biggest tournament any cricketer can play. When these two things coincide, it makes it a big tournament and memories that last forever.”
It’s a long tournament, new format, so pacing yourself cleverly is going to be a critical factor – Sachin Tendulkar
A total of top ten teams will participate in this upcoming Cricket World Cup. In the round-robin stage, every team will play against all other teams for once. The top four teams of the final points table will qualify for the semi-finals. In the end, the two semi-final winners will play the final of the tournament on 14th July at Lord’s (London), where the winner will win the crown. This format is very similar to the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
Talking about this long tournament, Tendulkar believes that pacing cleverly is going to be a critical factor. He has advised the Indian national cricket team to keep their focus and enjoy this moment.
Tendulkar said, “It’s a long tournament, new format, so pacing yourself cleverly is going to be a critical factor. We (India) just need to stay focused on the process and the result will take care of itself. That is what I would say: Stay focused on the process and enjoy these moments.”
Sachin Tendulkar about the present Indian national cricket team
In the previous Cricket World Cup edition (2015), India participated as the defending champions. Under MS Dhoni‘s captaincy, they performed well as they reached the semi-finals. However, in the semi-final, the co-host Australia beat them.
Tendulkar feels that the present Indian squad has better strength than the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup squad.
He said, “I think (in) the current World Cup squad, we are looking at a couple of all-rounders, in someone like Hardik (Pandya), a seam-bowling all-rounder. His inclusion is going to be critical. (Also) Vijay Shankar, who can bat and bowl.
“We are also looking at quality wrist spinners (Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal) to bowl in the middle overs. We have also got Ravindra Jadeja, who has been there for a while. These inclusions would give a new dimension to the team compared to 2015.”
Both Indian pacers and spinners have performed well in recent years. Tendulkar feels that India has a complete bowling attack for the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
He added, “I really like what I see in this bowling attack; I feel it’s a complete attack. But it’s always nice to not compare the two teams (2015 and 2019), their strengths and their weak areas.”
With flat pitches and two new balls, the bowlers are going to find it difficult to contain runs – Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar has claimed the present ODI rules support the batsmen to dominate against the bowlers. Talking about that he pointed out flat pitches, two new balls, a very lesser opportunity to gain reverse-swing.
He said, “With flat pitches and two new balls, the bowlers are going to find it difficult to contain runs. The batsmen are prepared to take more chances with field restrictions, because (by playing) in T20s, they have practiced a number of shots that are slightly risky. But if you go through with your shot and it clicks, that puts a lot of pressure on the bowling side.
“Also, I feel since the introduction of two new balls, the reverse-swing element is one factor that is missing in today’s cricket. We have not seen enough of reverse swing, and that has made a batsman’s life easy, to score runs at a different pace altogether.
“If you look at the last four one-dayers played in England, almost 350 runs were scored in virtually every game. So they (batsmen) are going at seven runs an over, which is making a bowler’s life really difficult, but that is also because two new balls are being used and reverse swing is virtually non-existent.”
Sachin Tendulkar predicted semi-finalists
Sachin Tendulkar has also predicted the semi-finalists for the upcoming Cricket World Cup. While he has named the favourite semi-finalists as India, England and Australia, he has felt that New Zealand or Pakistan can be the fourth team to play the semi-finals in the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
He claimed, “India, England and Australia, with New Zealand or Pakistan the fourth team.”
The host side England will play against South Africa in the opening match of the tournament on 30th May.
Meanwhile, India will begin their journey on 5th June when they will face South Africa at Southampton.