Eoin Morgan, former England captain, shared his insights ahead of the crucial India and Pakistan World Cup clash, stressing the significance of controlling emotions for better performance.
While speaking to Sky Sports, Morgan emphasized the atmosphere, noise, and emotions as key elements. He said that the team effectively managing their emotions will probably excel on the field. He analyzed both teams, suggesting that Pakistan needs to adapt to playing in a stadium filled with Indian supporters, a considerable shift from their current experience in Hyderabad.
Morgan said, “I have never been to an India-Pakistan game before and all you hear about is the atmosphere, the noise, the emotions, I think that will be the key to the whole lot of it. Whoever holds their emotions best, will perform the best.”
Morgan, who has never witnessed an India-Pakistan game firsthand, applauded Pakistan’s confidence after a record run chase against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad.
He added, “Pakistan are coming from Hyderabad where they had a record run chase and the confidence is high, Rizwan said in his press conference that the atmosphere there felt like Rawalpindi with the support that they had.”
However, the former England captain also warned that adapting to the contrasting atmosphere in Ahmedabad will be a challenge.
Morgan said, “So going from Hyderabad to here [Ahmedabad] is going to be defining. If they hit a four and take a wicket, there’s gonna be absolute silence. So they will need to address that, it is very difficult to break habits that you are used to getting from a reward, it will be a challenge.”
Morgan dubbed the match as “Box Office,” accepting the notable players on both sides.
He added, “Absolutely, box office! When you look at the names on both team sheets and the form they are in. Rohit Sharma scored the fastest hundred by an Indian at the World Cup, and Virat looks in sublime form. Well if you go back to the first game against Australia where Mitchell Marsh dropped him if he catches that ball, it is a completely different start for Virat, you cannot give players like that too many chances.”
The skipper who lifted the 2019 World Cup trophy praised Abdullah Shafique for his stellar performance in his maiden ODI hundred.
He said, “They [India] are playing a side that is equally as good, talented, probably not the experienced. Abdullah Shafique is coming from his first-ever game [at the World Cup] scoring a hundred in a record run-chase, and in a partnership where Rizwan would normally take the lead and be the aggressor, he [Abdullah] was the one that was the aggressor.”
Lastly, Morgan highlighted the pressure on the skippers of both sides, regarding the stakes beyond just the game. He emphasized the political and emotional dimensions, emphasizing the need for captains to control their emotions effectively amidst the intense atmosphere and expectations.
