'Nothing a Deep Breath Can't Fix': Abhinav Bindra Wishes Indian Team Ahead of Semis Clash Against Kiwis

Team India soared into the knockout phase of the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on home soil with an unblemished record of 9 wins in 9 group stage games and face the final-four challenge against New Zealand on the 15th of November.

Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts.

Ahead of the fixture, Indian Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra sent his wishes and counsel to the men in blue in an elaborate post on his social media handle.

“As the boys in blue gear up for the semi-final, here are my two cents on handling pressure – though not that they need any lessons on pressure, given their amazing performances so far,” the ace shooter began.

“Remember, the present moment is like a perfect shot – it’s all you’ve got. Stay in it,” his first point read.

He pointed out the strength in sticking to one’s routine but also encouraged the players not to be afraid to opt for a slight variance at times.

“Your routine is your ritual – it’s what turns pressure into performance. Stick to it, but don’t be afraid to throw in a googly and adapt when the situation demands,” the past continued.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist also touched upon crisis management and cited adversity as an impetus to script history.

“Crisis? That’s just another word for ‘I’m about to make history’. So when the going gets tough, the tough don’t just get going, they dig deep and build a skyscraper right there,” the post read.

He signed off with his take on pressure and how it can be a precursor to unprecedented things.

“Lastly, pressure is like your shadow in the afternoon sun – it might look big, but it’s not heavier than a cricket ball. Don’t run from it. Embrace it, high-five it, and you’ll learn to dance with it on the pitch. So go ahead, knock it out of the park, but remember, if you find yourself in a sticky wicket, there’s nothing that a deep breath and a calm head can’t fix,” he concluded.