He has played many an India-Pakistan match and captained India to a World Cup final. And he has served in every position in the BCCI including as President. Sourav Ganguly knows very well how much pressure there can be on Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid in the forthcoming World Cup on Indian soil. Saying they are the best men for the job, Ganguly says India will start as favourites against Pakistan on home soil and in front of 110,000 Indian fans in Ahmedabad.
Speaking on the concluding episode of Backstage With Boria, Sourav spoke at length about India’s world cup chances and the pressures of India Pakistan, and more.
Boria- World Cup back on home soil, last time we played on home soil we won the World Cup. How do you look at it this time?
Sourav- India will always be favourites on home soil. They have a very good side and if the fitness of the players are on track, they will always have a very good chance in home conditions. It will depend on how they play during the tournament and how the fast bowlers perform but that’s for everyone so as I said, India in home conditions will always have a strong chance.
Boria- India Pakistan. Please make us understand the enormity of India Pakistan.
Sourav- It is a huge game. Always was and always will be. You have realised how important it is in the context of the World Cup. I used to treat it very much like an India Australia, India South Africa contest. I used to get into the mindset that it is still the red ball or the white ball you are up against and prepare myself like that. You can’t let the occasion get to you because that’s when you tend to lose focus.
Boria- So when players say that it is just another game it can’t be that. It is a very different game. To say it is just another game can’t be the truth isn’t it?
Sourav- No its not. You have to prepare yourself that way. That’s how you manage pressure. Some manage and some don’t manage. In my tenure we had a great record against Pakistan but this time round it will be a more competitive game. Last year after Pakistan beat India in Dubai things have changed. Pakistan is also a very good side and it is amazing how they keep churning out extraordinary talent. But playing India in India, playing India in Ahmedabad and playing India in front of 110,000 fans is a very different thing.
Boria- Shoaib Akhtar was on this show earlier and he said to me that Indian media isn’t going to give Pakistan a chance and as a result they will go into this game as the “underdog”. India will have all the things to do because they are the favourites and Pakistan will actually enjoy this tag of underdog.
Sourav- India are the favourites and there is no doubt about that. India also has the record against Pakistan in World Cup 50 over contests. But then you have to play well on the day. It is a new day and a new game. India has some very good fast bowlers, and some fine spinners so it will depend on execution on the day.
Boria- We start against Australia. And they are a very strong unit. How do you look at playing one of the strongest teams at the very start of the tournament? Could dent our confidence if things don’t go our way.
Sourav- Australia are a very good side but they are certainly not the same Australia of 2003. India have done well against Australia in big tournaments, India beat Australia in the 2019 World Cup for example, and have the side to do well against Australia. While this Australian team is very good, it isn’t the same as in 2003.
Boria- Rohit Sharma – Rahul Dravid- huge tournament for them both. They have done well to make finals like the WTC but then we haven’t won finals. I have asked this question before. What’s it with finals?
Sourav- You won’t win all finals. But then you need to make it to the final first. So you need to break things down. First you need to play well and win the majority of the nine games to be able to make the final. Don’t think about the final at the start of the tournament. It is much like batting. When you go into bat don’t think of the 100. Get to 50, 60, 70 and then when you get to 90 that’s when you think of the 100. For the World Cup, it is the same. First, play well and get to the final. Once you are there that’s when you plan for the final and try and win it.
Boria- So is it about pressure and the art of handling pressure?
Sourav- Of course it is pressure. But that’s international sport for you. You need to soak in the pressure and go out there and perform. Take the last football World Cup final for example. Messi was under tremendous pressure to deliver. He did. And that’s why he is the greatest. He led Argentina to a World Cup win. France too played superbly well and Mbappe played like a champion under pressure. That’s what great players do.