Team India will leave off-field distractions behind, asserts Laxman

If the uncertainty over their participation in the tournament was the first controversy that hit them, the team is once again in focus, this time over an alleged rift between skipper Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble. Despite the negative stories, Laxman is confident the players will concentrate only on the campaign.

“I believe that all the distractions will be kept aside when the team walks on to the park. The way they performed in the warm-up games shows they are focusing on the job at hand. When you play for your country, all you want to do is go out and give your best. You are representing a billion people, there is so much expectations. We also need to remember that the 2019 ICC World Cup is in England. If India can do well in this Champions Trophy, then they go to that World Cup with a lot of confidence,” Laxman said on the sidelines of P&G Shiksha Superhero, an initiative to educate and impact the lives of underprivileged children.  India do not enjoy a good record against their arch-rivals in Champions Trophy, winning only one of their three encounters so far. “It’s good to get the tough match at first. I have always believed that when you play against Pakistan it is important to remove all the distractions from your mind. India must focus on the task at hand and I am sure Virat will be telling his team the same. The idea is to go out, express themselves and play their natural game,” the former India batsman explained. 

When India lifted their second Champions Trophy title in 2013, it was a young side that clicked as a group. Laxman felt the current squad is better thanks to the experience it holds. “Definitely, this squad is more experienced. A lot of players from that side are still the nucleus of this team. Every player evolves. Take the example of  Umesh Yadav... the way he has evolved since 2013.. more mature, understands his bowling a lot more,” he noted.