As anticipation for the World Cup 2023 builds, former Indian cricket star Gautam Gambhir pinpoints Australia as the significant hurdle India must clear to clinch the iconic trophy. With an impending face-off between India and Australia scheduled for October 8 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the stakes have never been higher.
Renowned for his decisive roles in India's 2007 and 2011 World Cup glories, Gambhir delved deep into the cricket archives during his interaction with Star Sports. He remarked, "Look, I have always said this, and there is no doubt in this, that if you want to win the World Cup, then you have to beat Australia. In 2007, when we won the World Cup, we defeated Australia in the semifinal. In 2011, when we won the World Cup, we beat Australia in the quarterfinal."
Dispelling the perceived sanctity of rankings, Gambhir honed in on Australia's unrivaled prowess in ICC tournaments. "Australia is the strongest team in any ICC tournament. Remove the ranking, ranking does not matter. You can be in any position in the rankings, but Australia, when it comes to those big tournaments, the World Cups, I think Australia has got the players, they have got the self-belief, Australia has the ability to play those big moments really well," he elucidated.
Gambhir also spotlighted the intertwining fates of India and Australia in World Cup history. He indicated that in India's three triumphant World Cup campaigns, they bested Australia in the decisive knockout rounds on two occasions. The 2015 World Cup served as a contrasting tale, with India succumbing to the Australian onslaught.
Gambhir’s analysis delineates Australia as the formidable opponent to overcome. He firmly believes, "I believe that if we have to win the World Cup this year, Australia is going to be the most important game, and we start against Australia, so there is nothing better than that. So beating Australia is very, very important."
Gambhir's reflections bring to the fore the intangibles of cricket - the mental fortitude, the meticulous strategies, and the prowess to thrive under pressure. These insights, anchored in historical data, will undeniably resonate with Team India as they sharpen their strategies and fortify their resolve for the colossal clash against the Australians.
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