[koyaraghunadh]

It is generally argued that Indian Cricketers are extremely talented but lack killer instinct. I wonder whether that is really so. Probably Indian cricketers are less talented than their counter parts. For example, it is said that India has very talented Spinners. But a bit of analysis proves that invariably a spinner from visiting teams always has been more successful than our spinners. This also disproves that Indian play spin very efficiently.

As reagrds killer instinct, do we mean to say that the Indian team had killer instinct while playing Bermuda, but did not have one while playing Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

[kushal]

You have raised such an important issue, that I am forced to push this thread to 'Interview Discussions'.

[Nethra K Putti]

Originally Posted by koyaraghunadh

It is generally argued that Indian Cricketers are extremely talented but lack killer instinct. I wonder whether that is really so. Probably Indian cricketers are less talented than their counter parts. For example, it is said that India has very talented Spinners. But a bit of analysis proves that invariably a spinner from visiting teams always has been more successful than our spinners. This also disproves that Indian play spin very efficiently.

As reagrds killer instinct, do we mean to say that the Indian team had killer instinct while playing Bermuda, but did not have one while playing Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Ans : During the period of Kapil Dev our Indian team had good batsman & also bowlers .. when india won World Cup during the reign of Kapil dev ...

but now cricketers r having over confidence in each everything ..

i was thinking atleast now i.e. after 20 years there will bring world cup ..

our indian cricketers r there to give show off like miss universe .. & they r fit for Advertisement ..

Bernuda is a new team entered into WC .. & also less trained team ..

Before Bangaldesh was not much playing .. but this time the coach giving to them is very strong & powerfull ... so they won ...

Sri lanka ok .. they r in medium level.. not like New Zee-Land. . this is too pwerful team ..

im thinking this time WC goes to New Zee-Land...

[harshabanad]

We associate Cricket more with India than hockey.Of course Cricket is a game which must be played with "killer Instinct". But there are limitations.
Unlike football, hockey, basketball and other team-related games, cricket gives a player only one opportunity.If he is out in the first ball he gets a duck...or else he goes on to reach a century. Thats what gives this game the unpredictability. We all must appreciate this fact.
Secondly, when it comes to Indian cricketers,each one plays for himself. There is not much team spirit there.
What troubles Indian cricket?
.....Politics of course....to reach the national team one must have some back ground and there is lobbying.By the time a player reaches the national team, he is exhausted. When compared to david Beckham Zidane, Federer and others, our cricketers are weak in stamina...I do not know what they eat?
Also it is a game of the "Rich".Poor people have the opportunity only to play in the "gullies".
.....and one more thing....."culture".....we as Indians have no proper sports culture.Sportsmen pre-maturely accept defeat even before actually getting defeated.They must understand that every game or an event is a "psychological war".Use the " Game theory" as enunciated by Plato.
...No matter what happened against sri-Lanka, We shouldn't have got defeated against Bangladesh.It makes me remember of the "tortoise and the hare" story.
Tips for the team players?
1) Stop taking part in advertisements.
2) When you are a spent force, exit graciously(this is for Sachin)
3) Aggressiveness should be shown in the game not in the body( for Harbjan)
Request to the fans
1)Stop attacking the houses of lpayers.
2)Democratic ways of protest is a must.Only to show that cricketers are no demi-gods and they too have responsibilities.
3)Don't blame the coach, as he can only take the horse to the pond ,but can't make it drink. Can we blame our "coaching institutes" because we didn't clear the civil services?
In the end I remember Ms Kiran Bedi's words...."I do not want to waste my time the whole day watching cricket, but in the end I'm interested to know if they've won or lost because they lose most of the times".
Lastly I can't undertand that when there are so many beautiful girls cheering and watching them,why can't they get the " killer instinct'?

[srinivasg]

From the early days of Cricket to till 1990, it was played for the honour of the country with enourmous amount of zeal and sincerity. But now the gentleman's game has fallen so much that they are playing for the money!.

Cricket is no more a game these days; it has lost its fame as a game. It is very clearly evident from the recent dastard incident of murdering Pakistan cricket coach Bob woolmer. We all have to hang our heads in shame after hearing the fact that, Bob Woolmer, a Briton who was manually strangled to death in a high security Pegasus Hotel, Jamaica. It's a game marred by match-fixing scandals and under the hegemony of underworld dons.

On March 17, 2007 Cricket fans all over the India stunned after the staggered performance of the Indian team against Bangladesh in Port-of-Spain. Bangladesh even ruled out India's last hope of being defeated by debutants Bermuda and showing a clear sign of closing the World Cup doors for India. All credit goes to Bangladesh players they remain undaunted against the big names Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and others. We all agree, winning and losing are the two faces of a coin but what went wrong against Bangladesh was choosing to bat first on a juicy pitch, low score on the board, low quality of bowling and fielding.

There has been always extreme pressure for India, Pakistan cricketers due to high expectations from the country’s cricket lovers. Indian team is forced to bear both internal and external pressure. Internal pressure on the field and external pressure by the denizens of the country.

Winning a game is a matter of 90% mental and rest the physical ability. After a devastating defeat to Bangladesh, Cricket lovers in India started burning effigies of players, vandalizing their homes, performing mock funerals and government stepped up to provide security to their family. All such blight incidents are directly linked to player's mental rhythm and will applecart their mental calibre and finally the same is proved. Citizens must accept this fact and stop behaving off-puttingly (Team needs practice not prayers).

Coming on to the player's side:
A sport was meant to be a relaxing for players and spectators but over the years it gradually turned to be a source of major income. At least for some players in national team means an income from advertisements.

Do’s:
1. BCCI must ban players from participating in advertisements or else fetch more than 70% tax from the huge figures.
2. Media should stop hyping and unravel the unnoticed players who are doing well in other sports.
3. Powder-puff senior players must declare their retirement give more room for youngsters.
4. Try to look for all-rounders, we don’t want lower order batsman to return to pavilion meekly anymore.
5. Cut-down the high match fee paid to the players.
6. Strict legal action against the players engaged in match-fixing scandals and etc.
7. BCCI must ensure no politics during player’s selection.

Don’ts:
1. BCCI members and players should stay away from lampooning each other.
2. Stop experimenting the batting line-up.
3. Never under estimate the opponents.

There is no I in TEAM, Individual records pay no importance when you are failed to perform as a team. It doesn't matter how many world records we hold, no matter how strong is our batting line up at the end of the day, No excuse if you are defeated badly. World class players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Zaheer khan, Yuvraj Singh and Kumble failed to perform when crunch time came and easily succumbed to pressure. Lot of prayers, blessings went vain and ruined the India’s dream to life the World cup. That is where, the former west-Indian cricket player Sir Vivian Richards named as the best batsman of all-time, the greater the stage the greater was his performance.

As far as, Cricket coach is concerned, he comes as a gift for the teams who are just learning the critics of the game. I don’t think coach role would really matter a lot for the teams like India having Big names with more than 15 years of experience. Regarding the recent BCCI decision to replace Sachin with Dravid, Sachin can participate as a commentator not as a player in 2011 World Cup; Yuvraj Singh must lead the team.

Finally, World cup 2007 tamasha is over for India and it’s the time for emotional lovers to switch off the idiot box and get back to work, saving man power and electricity. There will be a great sadness in the corner of our heart that, having crossed one billion population, we failed to produce 11 players winning team.

Let’s hope for the best and my best wishes for the Indian team ICC World Cup 2011.

Thanks for reading
Srinivas G

[srinivasg]

Australia has dominated the world cricket from past 10 years. They have a well defined strategy and players with world class fitness level.

They proved again, why they are the leading contenders for the world cup against South Africa. South Africa started well but surrendered meekly later.

South Africa is still my favorite.................Let's see

[riteshmisra]

I think that the loss to Sri Lanka was more devastating. This group had been dubbed the group of death, and Bangladesh had always said that they may win one of their two matches vs India/ SL. Sadly it was against India.
But vs Sri Lanka, why did Indis not chase comfortably, why was body language bad, why were spirits not positive, i agree that for this team at least, kiler instinct was missing. Now even Sir Viv Richards has joined the debate saying that Indian team is not mentally tough. When will they be? How?

[krishnan]

Its a combination of both which accounts for the crickets downfall in India.As far as the talent goes,there are many players who arent naturally talented(Take the example of Michael Bevan) but they have risen to the occasion every time theres pressure even though their stroke making ability and perfection of shots doesent come close to the ones who are naturally talented.The talent is there in our team but the applciation at certain points of the game is missing.
Secondly for the last 10 years or so i dont think we have witnessed any major changes in indian cricket(except for the occasional records being broken) as the other teams have done.Whenever we travel outside for the games against sa,aus or nz we get a drubbing and the next moment when they come here we prepare flat pitches just to prove them we are stronger here and in the process we make a huge hue and cry when the team wins here and feel we are the best.This is bound to continue in the coming years unless and of course one sees the game from a neutral point of view and prepare the sporting tracks here.
And howewer much the voice is given to invest more and provide support to the people who are performing well in other sports the situation doesent seem to improve.
Nothing needs to change.Its we who need to change by giving equal interest to all the sports.Discussion is happening so much on cricket anytime.But i havent seen one discussion or analysis of the growth of people like pankaj advani or koneru humpy or jeev milkha singh.

[riteshmisra]

As regards killer instinct, very few indian cricketers have it, sourav ganguly for all his negative points definitely had it, he instilled confidence in the team and was a good leader, but my vote is still for yuvraj to be the captain and to give him a free hand and a long reign, then we can hope for better things

[Lakshmi Ayangar]

Its true that cricket in India has become more of a trade than a game.
I think there should be a autonomous body appointed so that cricket is kept far away from politics. Player's performance should be reviewed from time to time and the body should see to it that they dont go away from their goal. Politics and Cricket are two different fields and both of them shouldnt mix.