Confidence is the common factor

They may be continents apart in terns of ability and potential but if there8217;s one thing common to India and Kenya, who face each other ...

They may be continents apart in terns of ability and potential but if there8217;s one thing common to India and Kenya, who face each other in a semi-final here on Thursday, it8217;s confidence. India are aware they are favourites to reach the final; Kenya are aware that at this level, record and reputation count for nothing.

The confidence levels were almost a tangible presence at nets today. When Harbhajan Singh was asked if he expected India to play the world cup semi-final, he sais 8216;8216;No8217;8217;. The added, straight-faced, 8216;8216;I expected to be in the final.8217;8217;

And Kenyan skipper Steve Tikolo, asked who he8217;d prefer to play, said, 8216;8216;Whether Australia or Lanka in the final or India on Thursday, we have no problem playing anybody.8217;8217;

It was left to Kenyan coach Sandeep Patil to provide the voice of caution. Refusing to be dragged into the hype game, he said he didn8217;t want to make any statement 8216;8216;which will be difficult for me to digest after the game is over.8217;8217;

But it was lost amid the buzz, especially in the Indian camp. Such has been the positive energy flowing around Ganguly8217;s men that at team meetings the main focus is on the team strength rather than thinking about the rivals.

As the baby of the team Parthiv Patel said, after another long one-on-one session with coach John Wright, 8216;8216;We are concentrating more on improving ourselves rather than worrying about the opposition.8217;8217;

Harbhajan made the same point. 8216;8216;Our bowlers are bowling so well, we have the best batting line-up in the world and our fielding too has improved so much. We have been winning abroad and we all think that we can win the Cup.8217;8217;

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Comments like these make one fear that overconfidence, rather than Kenya, will be India8217;s downfall. That, though, is where the seniors in the side come in. Javagal Srinath comes up provides with the perfect antidote. 8216;8216;We are pretty sure that we are not going to get carried away. We have to guard against complacency,8217;8217; he says.

If Srinath felt obliged to downplay his colleagues8217; exuberance, Patil was under no illusion that his team were properly focussed. 8216;8216;Other than the great performances the best thing about my boys is the way they have handled the adulation and the praise. They have been very level-headed,8217;8217; he said.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More