Would Not Say That 2011 World Cup-Winning Team Was The Best Indian Side - Gambhir

Ten years ago on this day, Gautam Gambhir had played one of the best knocks by an Indian batsman in a World Cup, scoring 97 in the final against Sri Lanka to help India win the second title after 28

Q: In the recent past, especially since the 2013 Champions Trophy success, the Indian team has often gone down in crunch games in ICC tournaments – 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup semis, the 2017 Champions Trophy final or the 2016 T20 World Cup semifinal. Where do you think these Indian teams lacked?

A: Probably mental toughness, to be honest. You can play as many bilateral series as you want. You can win as many bilateral series as you can. You can win league stage games. But come the crunch moments, you know there is no opportunity of making a mistake and if you make a mistake, there is no way you can rectify it. Then, obviously, it comes down to mental skills. You will always have technical skills (playing at this level and doing so well). But do you have the mental toughness, the mental courage to actually play those moments to the best of your ability? That is what defines you, not only as a team but also as individuals. That will separate you from being a good to a very, very good player because that is all that matters. Come the crunch moments -- that is when you should deliver for the team and for the country. Eventually, it comes down to mental toughness.

Q: So you are saying these Indians teams lacked mental toughness in key games?

A: I don't know whether India lacked it. But I believe that if you don't win those important games, those crunch games, then you probably had the skill and that is why you reached that stage. If you didn't have the skill, you would not have reached the semifinals. And since you had skill, it is probably only mental toughness that was lacking. There are only two things that win you a game of cricket. One is skill and second is mental toughness or the mental ability to handle pressure. Whether it is quarterfinal or semifinal, it is about how you handle the pressure. Whoever handles the pressure, ends up coming out on top. So, probably India would have lacked the ability to handle pressure -- i.e. mental side because I don't think India lacked anything from the skill point of view. If they were lacking in skills, they wouldn't have reached the semifinals.

Q: There are three World Cups lined up for the current bunch of India players – T20 World Cups this year and in 2022, and the 50-over World Cup in 2023..

A: These guys are going to be very privileged that they will get to play three World Cups in a row because a lot of players have never played three successive World Cups. In fact, no one has ever played three World Cups in a row (in three successive years). So (my advice is) just go out there and win the World Cup, don't put much pressure that you have to go out there and win it. Try and play to the best of your ability and try and handle the crunch games better. Get the platform and the occasion out of your mind, because ultimately, it is not the occasion or the platform. It is the contest between bat and ball that matters, whether it is a World Cup final, a league game or a Ranji Trophy match. The platform is not the criteria. The criterion is whether you can win the contest between bat and ball. If you can win that contest, you will make things easier for yourself.

Q: Keep the occasion out of system...

A: They need to get the platform and the occasion out of their minds, because if they keep thinking that it is the World Cup or you have to win the World Cup and that it is now or never, I don't think these things ever work. I think they've got to remember that the contest is between bat and ball. Try and win as many contests. The more contests you win, the more chances you get to win the World Cup.

Q: You've been quoted as saying that the 2011 World Cup win was more than just the six (that MS Dhoni hit to win the final). It seems to have got a lot more hype than anything else from that final...

A: For me, 20 people sitting in the dressing room won the World Cup for the country. In fact, one billion people won the World Cup for the country. Not that particular six (by Dhoni).