Chennai, February 25 Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak acknowledged the pressure on India ahead of the must-win T20 World Cup Super Eights match against Zimbabwe, but expressed confidence in his team's ability to handle the crucial situation.
The heavy 76-run defeat against South Africa in Ahmedabad has made it mandatory for India to win the remaining two Super Eight matches against Zimbabwe here on Thursday, and against the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.
"Obviously, the World Cup in India will bring pressure and expectations. I firmly believe that in any international game you play, you will feel pressure. And this is a crucial game, obviously, when you are representing a country," Kotak said in the pre-match press conference here on Wednesday.
However, Kotak did not doubt the Indian players' mental strength.
"Honestly, I believe that just because we lost one game and we didn't have a good partnership, people are talking more about the pressure.
"But I honestly think they are all capable of handling that pressure. If we want to win the World Cup, we have to handle that pressure.
"So, it's just about creating that momentum. Once we start getting that momentum again, if we do it starting tomorrow, I think they will perform well at the right time," he added.
One part of regaining momentum, according to Kotak, is for the openers to perform well together.
Ishan Kishan has been scoring freely, but Abhishek Sharma has been underwhelming so far in the ICC tournament.
"See, in all our bilateral series (against New Zealand and South Africa), our batting was really clicking. I think in this World Cup, the last game was a little concerning because, in roughly a year and a half, we only got less than 150 twice.
"I think we should accept that it was our worst game in two years, so we should just honestly, I feel, not think about it too much and move forward.
"Our openers haven't been performing as well as we want. Ishan played brilliantly against Pakistan, but Abhishek had a few difficult games. That's fine, and once they start performing, it will be a different environment," he explained.
However, Kotak said India will stick to its aggressive batting template going forward in the tournament.
"Definitely, we will play the same brand of cricket. I think we have to be very positive and play the same brand of cricket that has given us success, and that is clearly the way we will play. There will be no difference.
"Yes, if the pitch is different and you have to adjust to the pitch, like we did in Colombo, that's fine; that's part of the game," he noted.
The domestic stalwart also said that middle-order batter Rinku Singh might rejoin the squad later in the day.
The left-handed batsman had left the squad for New Delhi on Tuesday to be with his ailing father.
"And Rinku, his father wasn't well, so he went back, and I think he is coming back this evening. So hopefully, he will be back this evening," he added.
