Getting tired of the underdog "woe-is-us" mentality

[BacktoCricaddict]

In his interview, Kohli says that the team relishes being in this situation.  A situation when the whole world is doubting them because it motivates them.  This is a very flawed perspective for Team India at this point in time.  

 

It worked in 1983.  India was truly an underdog.  They did not have a track record of ODI success and were less talented than at least 4 more teams in the World Cup.  No one gave them a chance, but they kept proving everyone wrong by playing as a team and overcoming all odds.

 

It worked in 2001.  Australia was a juggernaut, coming in with 16 straight test wins.  India had just been annihilated in the first test of the series.  They were down by a gazillion runs in Kolkata and staring at another humiliating loss.  No one gave them a chance; then magic happened.

 

It worked in Australia 2020-21.  Their captain was back in India.  Their frontline bowlers were hurt.  They were playing with a bunch of T-20 specialists who had no record of success in tests.  They were facing a fearsome attack.  No one gave them a chance.  Expectations were low, but they proved everyone wrong exhibiting unusual mental toughness and team-spirit, making history.

 

Not here.  Not now.  Not this group.  These guys are supposed to be among the best-ever.  The openers are in sublime form.  The middle-order has played 50000 tests between them.  The bowlers, esp Siraj, Shami and Bumrah, are striking fear in the hearts of batsmen for a couple of years now.  This is a champion outfit on paper.  Fans are expecting them to win, even dominate, even in these conditions.  It is bullcrap to say that people doubted them.  Everyone has had high, not low, expectations of them for this series.  Very few people have said that they could not beat a depleted England squad.  And when they surrender meekly on Day 4, people will rightfully be disappointed and question their heart and professionalism.  

 

It is time to drop the "we love adversity" act.  It goes only so far.  It is time for this team to accept that they have been given everything - support, adulation, payments, acclimatization time, rest - everything.  The bar is high.  So, play like the champions you are supposed to be. 

 

Toh gal sun kaptaan saab, no one doubts you .., except maybe yourself.  

 

 

Edited August 28, 2021 by BacktoCricaddict

[DeepSpace]

Hai Rabba .....!

 

[Vijy]

1 hour ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

In his interview, Kohli says that the team relishes being in this situation.  A situation when the whole world is doubting them because it motivates them.  This is a very flawed perspective for Team India at this point in time.  

 

It worked in 1983.  India was truly an underdog.  They did not have a track record of ODI success and were less talented than at least 4 more teams in the World Cup.  No one gave them a chance, but they kept proving everyone wrong by playing as a team and overcoming all odds.

 

It worked in 2001.  Australia was a juggernaut, coming in with 16 straight test wins.  India had just been annihilated in the first test of the series.  They were down by a gazillion runs in Kolkata and staring at another humiliating loss.  No one gave them a chance; then magic happened.

 

It worked in Australia 2020-21.  Their captain was back in India.  Their frontline bowlers were hurt.  They were playing with a bunch of T-20 specialists who had no record of success in tests.  They were facing a fearsome attack.  No one gave them a chance.  Expectations were low, but they proved everyone wrong exhibiting unusual mental toughness and team-spirit, making history.

 

Not here.  Not now.  Not this group.  These guys are supposed to be among the best-ever.  The openers are in sublime form.  The middle-order has played 50000 tests between them.  The bowlers, esp Siraj, Shami and Bumrah, are striking fear in the hearts of batsmen for a couple of years now.  This is a champion outfit on paper.  Fans are expecting them to win, even dominate, even in these conditions.  It is bullcrap to say that people doubted them.  Everyone has had high, not low, expectations of them for this series.  Very few people have said that they could not beat a depleted England squad.  And when they surrender meekly on Day 4, people will rightfully be disappointed and question their heart and professionalism.  

 

It is time to drop the "we love adversity" act.  It goes only so far.  It is time for this team to accept that they have been given everything - support, adulation, payments, acclimatization time, rest - everything.  The bar is high.  So, play like the champions you are supposed to be. 

 

Toh gal sun kaptaan saab, no one doubts you .., except maybe yourself.  

 

 

He will hopefully drop it after Root and his men pummel Ind in the next two tests. or perhaps he will say "we love adversity, we love being humiliated, because we are masochists who enjoy pain" or "we love being humiliated, because it makes our fans deeply upset and seeing their pain makes us happy because we are sadistic" the point is: who knows what new garbage he will come up with

[Vijy]

24 minutes ago, DeepSpace said:

Hai Rabba .....!

 

Wife taller than hubby scenario here, I presume? Also wife wears the pants (or Pant) in the relationship?

Edited August 28, 2021 by Vijy