Harbhajan Singh has given some important advice for the Indian team ahead of the T20 World Cup. As part of India’s victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup squad, the former spinner has urged the Men in Blue to focus on ‘us’ and not ‘me’ to end the long wait of the country for an ICC trophy.
Team India has not won the T20 World Cup since MS Dhoni led them to glory in 2007, the inaugural edition of the competition. They have also not qualified for the final of the tournament since 2014. In the last edition, India’s campaign ended at the semi-final stage with a humiliating 10-wicket defeat against eventual winners England.
And as India prepares for the main event, Harbhajan Singh urged Rohit Sharma & Co. to play as a team. The former India spearhead said the team can achieve anything with the collective efforts of the players.
“Rohit Sharma alone cannot win the Cup, it is about ‘us’ and not ‘me’. The more we play as ‘us’, you can achieve anything,” said Harbhajan Singh while speaking at ‘Star Sports Press Room ‘. On Wednesday.
Harbhajan Singh on the World Cup to be held right after the IPL:
The T20 World Cup will begin less than a week after the IPL ends. While IPL 2024 will end on May 26, the World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 1. Many believe that it could affect the Indian team’s chances as the players will be tired after the grueling campaign in the IPL.
Speaking about it, Harbhajan Singh advised the Indian players to see the T20 World Cup as an extension of the IPL and adjust their mindset accordingly.
“The IPL is a grueling tournament, traveling is very tiring. The players will be a little tired physically and mentally, but they have to see it as an expanded part of the IPL. There is nothing bigger than the World Cup, you need to give as best you can, you have to be changed on the right day. You have to bowl well, bat well and play well,” he said.
“Winning a World Cup is not going to be easy, you have to be mentally strong,” he added.
Team India will open their ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on June 5 against Ireland before taking on Pakistan on June 9.