Even if one is a hardened pro, it's not easy to keep emotions in check when representing the country in an India-Pakistan clash on a cricket field
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli
Even if one is a hardened pro, it's not easy to keep emotions in check when representing the country in an India-Pakistan clash on a cricket field. The huge burden of expectations and tension of an Indo-Pak encounter can unnerve the toughest of characters. Though players are advised to take it as a normal game, it is hardly the case. So, what does a player do to keep calm in such a situation?
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India skipper Virat Kohli's advice to players is to shut themselves from all external distractions and only listen to their inner voice.
Staying away from distractions
"The biggest thing is to stay off social media. Honestly, it sounds funny, but it's so important to stay away from those things, and to connect to things that matter, the things that a sportsman needs to take care of. Connecting to yourselves within, taking a bit more time to do stuff which you don't normally get to do and stay away from everything else can really help. Listening to too many suggestions from players or critics can divert your focus from the main job athand," said Kohli. So, what steps has he taken to help his players stay away from pressure?
'No over-excitement'
"We've made an effort not to speak about the match against Pakistan in a different way. We've practised the same way from the first day we came here, there was nothing extra, there's no over-excitement. People are just doing normal things that they do in any practice session, and that's the kind of approach we have maintained throughout the tournament. As I said last time, it's just another game of cricket tomorrow, and whatever the result, we have to go forward and play more games after that.
"It's good to stay relaxed in these kind of situations because it helps you think better when you are mentally calm and composed. You can help the team come out of difficult situations only if you're thinking in that fashion. We have changed nothing from the first day we came here and, honestly, that stays like that," he added.
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