India face Pakistan in the most awaited game of the World Cup in Ahmedabad today
But, one number has been largely overlooked: 96. That is the number of steps a batsman has to walk, coming down from the lofty height of the dressing room to ground zero, before he steps onto the playing surface. Once out in the middle, every player knows how to tune out of the deafening roar of the crowd and focus on the ball coming towards him.
But, as is so often the case, the anticipation of an event can cause more anxiety than the worst-case outcome. How each batsman, waiting for his turn, deals with these nerves will play a major part in how they can control the mind, stay in the present and give themselves the best chance of succeeding.
This is a bit like how players deal with the immense external pressure that they are under, increasingly so in this age of social media.
“It’s not my place to tell anyone how to do it. They have to work out their own way of dealing with these things,” said India captain Rohit Sharma.
“Like I said before, yes, it’s a massive game. But for us, what is important is, we are playing an opposition tomorrow, which will be quality.”
This match is so much the cynosure of all eyes that images of India’s players inspecting the pitch were broadcast live in between the telecast of New Zealand’s encounter against Bangladesh on Friday. But, as always, television does not show you the whole picture.
Rohit and Rahul Dravid were looking at one of two pitches that seemed to be in contention for the game.
