‘You've got to try and keep a clear mind’ - Ricky Ponting reflects on why India is unable to win ICC trophies

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting recently came forward to talk about the current ICC title drought that plagues the Indian team. It is worth noting that the Men in Blue last won an ICC title in 2013, when they won the Champions Trophy under the leadership of MS Dhoni. 

Ponting led one of the most successful Australian sides of all time, leading them to multiple World Cups in 2003 and 2007, and the two-time World Cup winning captain opined that the side needs to find a way to keep a clear mind if they want to win.

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"You've got to try and keep a clear mind where you can focus on the task at hand rather than thinking too far ahead or worrying about any sort of external pressures," Ponting was quoted as saying by Telegraph India. 

"There's no doubting the talent (in India squad), but we also shouldn't forget that the World Cups are not easy to win. There are all the best players in the world together at one time in different contrasting conditions,” he added.

There's definitely a mindset thing to it: Ponting

Furthermore, Ponting talked about how mindset is a crucial aspect of a winning team. He opined that dealing with and coping with pressure and thinking through specific situations is very important.

"So look there's definitely a mindset thing to it. How you deal with pressure, how you cope with pressure, how you think your way through certain situations is the difference between winning and losing a T20 game,” Ponting said.

India recently kicked off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, a tournament which is being co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies. India took on Ireland in their first game of the competition in New York on June 5. The side will continue its campaign by taking on arch-rivals Pakistan in New York as well on June 9.