World Cup 2023: Why did the word 'choker' become associated with the talented Indian cricket team

The Indian team is a clear favorite in the Cricket World Cup 2023, but the tag of 'choker' is also attached to them.

 This derisive nickname was commonly used in the cricketing world for the South African team that failed in the final moments of every major trophy from 1995 to 2015.  However, the name has become associated with India since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 due to a dismal failure in key ICC tournaments.

 Just two years ago in 2013, India won the Cricket World Cup and four years before that, in MS Dhoni's first campaign as captain, India also won the first T20 World Cup under a big star.  The hat-trick of victories not only gave MS Dhoni a great status, but also recognized the talent and breadth of cricket in India.

 With the launch of the IPL in 2008 and its gradual rise to fame and fortune, players from every corner of the country were discovered and India's rise in the world of cricket was evident.India is the biggest power in the world of cricket not only because it accounts for 70% of the profits associated with the game globally, but also for a long time it was the best cricket team in the world, topping every level of the rankings.

 Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, India is once again among the top-ranked teams in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.  The Indian cricket system, despite its weaknesses, has been able to provide excellent facilities, money and opportunities to all types of players.

 India has the most talent in the world due to intense competition for places in the team and hence the players are forced to work hard and perform as much as possible.Cricket in India has gone from strength to strength but failure to win a major tournament for a long time is a source of disappointment for the fans.  The strange thing is that since 2013, India have been the favorites at the start of every tournament but have faltered in the final or earlier.

 How can this disturbing trend be explained?

 Is it due to flawed player selection policy or poor planning?  The frequent change of captain and coach

is the reason or the pressure on the players to play more?  Or is it just a result of bad luck?

 In one way or another, all these factors have affected the performance of the Indian team.  But with India reaching the knockout stages of all tournaments, it might be fair to say that the root of the problem lies elsewhere.

 Talent alone is not enough to win major tournaments.  It depends on how quickly the players are familiar with different factors, such as the pitch, and how the team management prepares the team for different opponents.  What matters most is how players, individually and collectively, deal with difficult situations on and off the field.

 The last of these points, to put it more bluntly, begs the question of how the Indian team copes with pressure.

With almost 1.4 billion fans watching every match just hoping to win, this pressure can affect even the best players and weaken them at crucial stages.

 India's former captain and chief coach Ravi Shastri says that in individual sports, the pressure is on the player alone, but in sports involving teams, the issue becomes complicated as each player has to work hard for a collective win.  One has to perform at their best or a few players have to replace those who are not having a good day.

 "A short period of bad play, one bad selection can ruin everything," he says.

 The semi-final in 2019 when three wickets including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli fell in the first few overs and then the World Test Championship final against Australia in which R Viswan was not fed confirm Ravi Shastri's analysis.

 Ravi Shastri says, 'Players have to be mentally strong.  At this level, a small mistake, even a square, can eliminate you.

 So is the Indian team mentally strong enough to emerge victorious this time?

Looking at talent, experience and team selection, of course.  Before the Asia Cup, the Indian team did not look complete and there were many questions.

 Will Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who were returning after a long injury layoff, be able to come back fully fit and in form?  Was the decision to recall Kuldeep Yadav right as the team already had two left-arm spinners in the form of Jadeja and Axar Patel?  Will creating a competition between KL Rahul and Axar Patel for the wicketkeeper's spot put undue pressure on both?

 But when the Indian team won the Asia Cup, all these questions were put to rest.

 Playing at home will also favor the hosts India as seen in the last three World Cups but it does not guarantee victory.  In 1992, Australia did not even reach the knockout stage, while in 1987 and 1996, despite the World Cup being held in India, the team was eliminated in the semi-finals both times.

 Simply put, there is no simple recipe for building a group of players into an unbeatable team.  Apart from the ability, the right team selection, chemistry between the players and then the ability to absorb pressure are important.

 How the Indian team copes with these multiple challenges over the next seven to eight weeks remains to be seen and will determine whether India emerge as champions or 'chokers' this time around