The cricket legend believes that India’s championship drought in ICC events over the last decade is down to the players’ mindset, since skill was never an issue.
The great Matthew Hayden believes India’s title drought in ICC events over the last decade is down to the players’ mindset, not quality, and has advised them to “forget about the outcome” going into the WTC final 2023 against Australia. India’s last ICC title came under MS Dhoni’s leadership in 2013, and the team has since fallen short in high-pressure knock-out games, including the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan, the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, and the T20 World Cup semifinal against England last year.
India finished second behind New Zealand in the inaugural WTC final two years ago.
For a long time, India has been the sport’s financial and talent powerhouse, but the big titles have escaped them.
Can they turn things around against Australia in the final on June 7 at The Oval? “It’s not a question of ability.” As a result, it must be a question of opportunity and mindset. “I mean, cricket is life here, it’s the DNA of sport, and there are no other competitors,” Hayden, a key player of Australia’s all-conquering side of the 2000s, told PTI in an interview.
Cricket’s popularity in India is unparalleled, which adds to the strain on the players, according to Hayden, who played with Dhoni in the CSK ranks.
“I could walk down the street in Australia and go unnoticed, especially with this terrible beard and hat on (laughs).” Aside from cricket, it also has excellent competitive sports. Rugby, football, our watersports, surfing, and outdoor sports are all quite insular in India, and there is a lot of pressure.
“The same is true for Pakistan cricket.” There is just one sport, and that is cricket, so it is a mindset issue.” “Being cautious about going for the scoreboard and titles and just participating and being a part of the process is something that, when looking at franchise setups, Gujarat Titans and CSK have done extremely well this year. Mumbai Indians, too, believe in a specific procedure.
“So, my advice to Indian cricket is to forget about the results and focus on the process,” said one of his generation’s most devastating openers.
