2011 hero Yuvraj Singh shares tips to Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur ahead of Women's World Cup
"There will be times when things are not going to go well. And that’s the time when the experience, the self-belief, has to take over," said Yuvraj.
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Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh emphasized during the trophy tour event in Mumbai on Monday, August 11, that self-belief is crucial, especially when things start to unravel, something that inevitably happens in major tournaments. With just 50 days remaining before India begins their 50-over Women’s World Cup campaign on home soil, valuable advice has come from one of the finest World Cup veterans on managing expectations while playing in the intense Indian atmosphere.
Yuvraj, who faced similar high-pressure situations during the 2011 Men’s World Cup, when India ended a 28-year wait to claim the title, believes that his experience could prove helpful to Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and the entire India Women squad when the going gets tough in a global event like World Cups.
“The fans are always wanting fours and sixes, or wickets. That’s the game. They come to watch. They want entertainment. They want to be entertained. There will be times when things are not going to go well. And that’s the time when the experience, the self-belief, has to take over. The belief that I can be the player at this moment. I think every time you walk in the game, you have to believe that,” Yuvraj said as quoted by The Indian Express.
This World Cup will be very special: Mandhana
Always be in the moment: Yuvraj
The Chandigarh-born recalled that after India’s loss to South Africa during the 2011 World Cup at Nagpur, media backlash had started. It was then that Sachin Tendulkar and coach Gary Kirsten devised a strategy to cope with the pressure, the team decided to avoid watching TV and reading newspapers to block out the outside noise. Notably, the game against Proteas was the only one the Men in Blue lost during the event that year.
“Social media wasn’t big that time, right? Now it is. Gary said when you walk through crowds, you’re ok to go and sign signatures but put on your headphones. Go and focus on your field. When you go back to your room, put your headphones back on. Be in that moment, cut the noise, and try and do what you need to do,” the 43-year-old recalled.
The Women in Blue will open their campaign against the Lankan Lionesses on September 30 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, and will face every team in a round-robin format.