In 8 years the same incident is repeating itself. This is a total of 7 times. Knockout is a curse for Team India at the moment. At one time, it was thought that if New Zealand got ahead in the knockouts, India would lose all of its glory. Not really. On the other hand, when the knockouts come, all the secrets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are exposed.
Statistics show that out of the 7 do-or-die knockouts India has lost in the last 8 years, only two were against the Kiwis. Namely the 2019 World Cup semi-final and the 2021 World Test Championship final. Besides, Team India has to face 5 different teams in the remaining 5 knockouts. Sri Lanka (2014 T20 World Cup Final), Australia (2015 World T20 Semi Final), West Indies (2016 T20 World Cup Semi Final), Pakistan (2017 Champions Trophy Final), and England (2022 T20 World Cup Semi-Final) respectively. That is, not a specific opposition team, but the knockouts are the nemesis of the Men in Blue.
So what’s the way? Only one way. And what ICC has to do in that regard. That is, ICC has to introduce a new format. No, no, in the sense of the new format, in this case, there is no cricket of more or fewer overs besides Test, ODI, or T20. In this case, the format means the competition format.
What is the pattern of the World Cup now? First the group league, then the knockout round. Change should be made here. Knockouts will not be allowed. World cup should be done in league format only. Once upon a time, knockout chokers in South Africa used to be talked about like this. If the world cup was organized only in league format instead of knockout, then they would have won the world cup anytime. Unfortunately, the same applies to Team India today. They are out of touch in the group league. But can’t catch or touch anyone else when knocked out. So, if in the future the World Cup can be organized only in the league format, then maybe the country of 130 crores will be the best in the world again.
