A date with destiny at Wankhede

A defiant Rohit Sharma played down pressure fears at the press conference ahead of Wednesday's semi-final contest against familiar foes New Zealand.

"Be it a league match or semifinal, the pressure is always there in a World Cup match. We have handled it well from the first game to the last. The team has responded well," Sharma remarked. His authoritative reply provided a glimpse of the self-belief of this transformed Indian team.

But, there is pressure, most certainly. The pressure of being the overwhelming favourites. The pressure of being the hosts. The pressure of being the best team in the world. The pressure of expectations. The pressure of suffering a defeat. The pressure of the past.

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Is pressure a privilege?

Hard to believe, but the flip side of India's euphoria at having made it this far in the tournament undefeated is excruciating stress to some.

None explains this better than Pawan Surve. A hotelier in Mumbai's Cuffe Parade, Surve likes to introduce himself as a ‘committed fan of the Indian cricket team since time immemorial'. He said he kept dreaming that India had lost, waking up in a clammy sweat, night after night, while his wife had been devouring so much cricket content on social media each night before bed that she saw one of the players smiling triumphantly in her sleep.

"Hope our Diwali continues for the entire week", Surve added, pointing to the multi-coloured fireworks exploding across the sky.

The anticipation, no doubt, adds to the excitement, but the 2019 Manchester heartbreak, involving the same teams, lingering in a corner of one's mind as an irritant, cannot be brushed aside.

Surve remembers that day as though it were yesterday. "We all felt a great deal of excitement. India was brilliant throughout the tournament, naturally we expected to leave the stadium with smiling faces. We left as soon as MS (Dhoni) got out. It was really a big disappointment. We skipped dinner that night and directly left for our hotel from the stadium. Hope they avenge that defeat this time (sic)", he said. New Zealand also had the measure of India in the ICC WTC final in 2021, if one requires more attestation of the Kiwis' grip over the latter in global events.

The murmurs at the press conference grew louder. Will India wilt under pressure?

But pressure is a privilege sometimes. Captain Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, two individuals who know all about the pitfalls of heavy expectations, are aware these are mere matters of the mind.

Champions have the habit of bringing out their absolute best, especially when their backs are against the wall. Rohit's men have inhabited those traits.

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Wankhede, let's rewind to 2011

"I wish to see the same Wankhede as it was 12 years ago. There are only 18 hours left. We are hopeful of India's win," said Surve. Every nook and corner of the city is preparing for the semi-final with great zest and fans are leaving no stone unturned to suitably cheer the blue brigade when they walk into the iconic Wankhede.

Wankhede was where India outplayed Sri Lanka to lift the trophy for the second time in 2011. When the winning shot by the then Indian captain, MS Dhoni, sailed upward into the lights of the stadium, the Wankhede crowd started to applaud and cheer, and then roar, like a wave crashing and rebounding around the ground, gathering strength and fervour, with each passing minute. Colourful fireworks exploded in city after city and village after village, as throngs of people poured into the streets, beating drums, shouting and cheering to their hearts' content.

Whether India's propensity to rise above an uncomfortable past will be enough to allow Wankhede to replicate the 2011 magic is hard to tell. India, though, will be aware that any slip up will be viewed as a national catastrophe, shattering a billion hearts.

Come Wednesday, the world will know if India have got what it takes to keep winning hearts.

Dear Wankhede, can you grasp the hand of destiny once again?