Rohit Sharma's team took a conscious decision in West Indies in July to enhance bonding sessions keeping the World Cup in mind
DHARAMSHALA: Mohammed Siraj is goofing around even as Mohammed Shami is fronting regular questions from the media. This is moments after the team has come through in a critical game against New Zealand. Siraj takes a strategic place near the exit, just behind and to the right of where Shami is sitting. The arc lights are on the senior pacer and for Shami, Siraj's location is a blind spot.
Someone asks a question on the camaraderie between India's pace trio and adds, "Siraj bhi yahaan hai (Siraj is also here)." Shami suddenly turns around and asks, "Where," then bursts into laughter. "Ab to hoodie nikaal de (you can show your face now)," he tells Siraj, laughing. When the team is on a roll, everyone is all smiles.
Moments later, Siraj himself would reveal - in a more informal mixed-zone setting - how the team has deliberately worked behind the scenes to improve team bonding, with the World Cup specifically in mind.
India have now won five games on the trot, with their key pacers and batters finding form at the right time. Virat Kohli is chasing both centuries and targets with brazen impunity. Equally brazenly, Rohit Sharma is looking to out-bat the opposition in the first Powerplay.
Ravindra Jadeja showed how much of an asset he can be with the bat. Jasprit Bumrah has timed his return from injury to perfection.
Shami, who expressed pain at having been forced to sit out, returned with a match-winning five-haul wicket against the Kiwis. The team has come together well, and now looks bigger than the sum of its considerable parts.
Siraj, who said he had been struggling with his lengths for "three-four games", hit the perfect spots straight away on Sunday to keep New Zealand on a firm leash in the first 10 overs - they managed only 34/2, the fourth lowest Powerplay score in this World Cup.
But apart from the specifics and the strategic planning - most of which doesn't leave the dressing room - the team has also worked on the intangibles, which could explain some of the magic.
1/10:World Cup: Kohli hits 95 as unbeaten India down New Zealand
2/10:Chasemaster Kohli
<p>Virat Kohli led India to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the World Cup with a remarkable innings of 95.</p>ANI
3/10:Kohli missed Tendulkar's record
<p>Virat Kohli narrowly missed equalling Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 one-day international centuries.</p>Reuters
4/10:Shami strikes on his return
<p>Mohammed Shami was the star bowler for India, taking 5-54, helping to bowl New Zealand out for 273.</p>Reuters
5/10:Five wins on the trot
<p>India chased down the target with 12 balls to spare in Dharamsala, securing their fifth win in five World Cup matches.</p>PTI
6/10:Mitchell's terrific knock
<p>New Zealand, with Daryl Mitchell's brilliant 130, posted 273, but suffered their first loss in the tournament.</p>AFP
7/10:Crucial partnership
<p>Kohli's superb form was evident as he led partnerships, including a vital 78-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja.</p>AP
8/10:No 49th ton for Kohli
<p>Kohli's innings was terminated at 95 by Matt Henry, just five runs short of his 49th ODI century.</p>ANI
9/10:India batters shine
<p>The match also featured strong contributions from Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer.</p>AP
10/10:Shami's fifer made the difference
<p>Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul played a pivotal role in India's victory, containing New Zealand's scoring in the final 10 overs.</p>"The dressing room mahaul (atmosphere) is very good. No one was tense during the chase (against NZ). We are trusting each other and you can see the kind of success we are getting," Siraj said.
"It's not just about freedom in the dressing room... hum ek doosrey ke success ko enjoy kar rahey hai (we are enjoying each other's success). That's the most important thing... brothers ki tarah (like brothers). It's not like no one talks to someone who has had a bad day. He is not ignored in the dressing room, he is spoken to, comforted. We all realise it is important to give him confidence if he has not performed. This is how we've been getting continuous success."
Siraj revealed that efforts to firm up the ODI team bonding were first made on the tour to West Indies in July.
"Bilkul," he said when asked if West Indies was the place where it all began. "The ODI members started talking to each other, about the importance of taking everyone together for the World Cup. This was the most important thing.
"What is bonding? We have lunch, sit by the pool, aid each other in recovery, listen to music together, we joke with each other, we offer support when the pressure is too much. We are a family away from the family.
"Whatever is happening outside the ground is as important as what happens on the ground. This is not a bilateral series of 3-4 games. The World Cup comes once in four years and each one of us wants to win it. It is important to create an environment for the World Cup."
Shami too admitted that while being left out of the playing XI was not easy, the World Cup was a time to celebrate the success of teammates. "If you enjoy the success of others, you will get better results," he said. "Till now, I was watching everything from the bench. I can do something only if I'm given the chance.
1/10:World Cup: India vs New Zealand numbers and stats
AFP
2/10:Virat Kohli
<p>Virat Kohli hit 95 as India beat New Zealand by 4 wickets at the World Cup in Dharamsala on Sunday. </p>Getty Images
3/10:Most ODI tons
<p>Virat Kohli fell just 5 runs short of tying the record for most ODI hundreds, held by Sachin Tendulkar with 49. </p>AFP
4/10:The 6th wicket stand
<p>The 78-run stand between Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja is the 4th highest partnership for the 6th wicket or below for India in the World Cup. </p>AFP
5/10:3rd highest successful run chase
<p>The 274-run chase is tied with the 274-run target against Pakistan at Centurion in 2003 as the third highest target successfully chased by India in World Cups. </p>AP
6/10:4th highest run-getter
<p>Virat Kohli (13437) crossed Sanath Jayasuriya (13430) to become the fourth highest run-getter in ODI cricket after Sachin Tendulkar (18426), Kumar Sangakkara (14234) and Ricky Ponting (13704). </p>AP
7/10:Most 50-plus scores
<p>Virat Kohli (12) came level with Kumar Sangakkara and Shakib Al Hasan for the most 50-plus scores in World Cups. Sachin Tendulkar heads the list with 21 50-plus scores in World Cups. </p>AFP
8/10:Shubman Gill
<p>Shubman Gill (38 innings) broke the record of Hashim Amla (40) to become the fastest batsman to score 2,000 ODI runs and at 24 years and 44 days, also the fifth youngest Indian to get to the mark. </p>AP
9/10:Rohit Sharma
<p>With 38 sixes, India captain Rohit Sharma rose to the second spot in the list of most sixes in ODI World Cups. Chris Gayle heads the list with 49 sixes. </p>PTI
10/10:50 ODI sixes
<p>Rohit Sharma also became the third batsman to hit 50 ODI sixes in a calendar year after AB de Villiers (58 in 2015) and Chris Gayle (56 in 2019). </p>Reuters"When you are not playing, it is very difficult. But if your team is performing, your boys are in rhythm, then I don't think you should feel guilty sitting outside. Because you are also a part of the team and a part of the World Cup. Everyone should enjoy each others' success."
India play England in Lucknow next Sunday but the team has opted to stay back in Dharamshala, enjoy the mountain air, take some time off and bond as a team.
"The outside world thinks that cricketers get separated when they rest for eight days. That's not true. Cricketers can't be separated. There are always some activities. Practice activities, some games, football. There's no off. There's never an off," Shami said.
