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SPORTS NOVEMBER 17, 2023 | The Indian Eye 37
ICC WORLD CUP 2023
Cricket icons bet on Indian win in the
final as Aussies laud Maxwell’s triumph
Maxwell overcame severe cramps and a back spasm to smash an unbeaten 201* in just
128 balls (21 fours and 10 sixes) against Afghanistan on Tuesday
OUR BUREAU thinking that with the talent they
have, they should have already sealed
Mumbai/Kolkata
their spot. I have seen up close in re-
est Indies iconic cricketer cent years through my coaching work
Viv Richards believes that [Pakistan Super League] how much
WIndia can go all the way ability exists in that squad but they
unbeaten in the ongoing World Cup have made life hard for themselves - I
with the strong mindset that they think they are a more talented squad
showed in the entire tournament. In- than their place in the table would
dia are the only unbeaten team in the suggest. They can beat the very best
tournament after facing cricketing gi- on their day so there may be some
ants like Australia, South Africa and punches left in that team,” Richards
Pakistan. The Men in Blue have dom- added.
inated the table rankings by obliterat-
ing the opposition. Virat is a go-getter: Viv
They are just a couple of match- Richards
es away from lifting the trophy and
Richards feels that India can go all est Indies legendary crick-
the way if they continue to play with eter Viv Richards feels
their current mindset. Wthat “mental strength” is a
factor that has contributed to Virat
“In terms of this year’s compe- Kohli’s success and sets him apart as
a prolific scorer and record-maker.
tition, India have a mindset that Kohli scored runs at a decent
they can go all the way playing average from 2019 to 2022 but went
without scoring a century for three
like this. That absolutely should years. But last year he broke his
be their mindset and would barren run and scored his first T20I
century in the Asia Cup clash against
be mine if I was in that dress- Afghanistan.
Since then, Kohli has showcased
ing room - let’s go out with all exceptional form and in this World
guns blazing. That approach has Cup, he went on to match the record
worked so far and if that chang- of most ODI centuries of the iconic
cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
es, things may go astray,” Rich- Richards who witnessed Kohli’s
ards said in a column of ICC. remarkable run in the tournament
expressed his appreciation for the
star batter.
“I believe they can go all the way
“Virat is a go-getter and what sets
unbeaten, which is really something him apart is his mental strength. He
to strive for. There may be some will have backed himself throughout,
fears of ‘we have played so well so far, and on the occasions in the past when
there may be a bad game around the Virat Kohli celebrates with Ravindra Jadeja on completing his century during the match I have chatted with him and we have
corner in the semi-final’. They have to against South Africa (ANI) discussed things, his mental strength
try and nullify those and banish any has always been evident. That has
negative thoughts,” Richards added. gin victory against England in their fied for the semi-final with the quality been key to pushing him through to
New Zealand fortified their posi-
tion to qualify for the semi-final after final group-stage match. that they possess. how he is playing now. Very few play-
ers, or people, are built like that,”
Richards believes that the Men
“Pakistan could yet join them in
clinching a 5-wicket victory. Pakistan in Green should have already quali- the knockout stages but I can’t help Continued on next page... >>
will have to register a high run-mar-
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