The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Stay cool, Raju tells Dhoni's men

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Wednesday, Mar 30, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Stay cool, Raju tells Dhoni's men

V.V. Subrahmanyam

Body language holds the key, says Mukesh

HYDERABAD: “The two nations come to a halt when we play a cricket match at any level. It is easy to say from outside to treat it like any other match. But it is very difficult to control your emotions,” says former India left-arm spinner S.L. Venkatapathi Raju, summing up the mood of the entire nation on the eve of the India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final clash.

Raju was a member of the Indian team that knocked out Pakistan in the 1996 World Cup quarter-final in Bangalore. “I remember Rashid Latif repeatedly telling me – “tereko chakke maroonga” (I will hit you for sixes) every time he was at the non-striker's end.

But, thanks to Nayan Mongia's brilliant stumping, I dismissed him. It was a case of the Pakistani player losing his cool and focus of the target on hand. Even Aamir Sohail threw his wicket away after his verbal duel with Venkatesh Prasad. After that, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals,” recalls the proud Hyderabadi.

“Let us be honest, there will be pressure on both teams. If the crowd is silent, you feel it more. It all depends on which team handles it better on the given day,” says Raju.

He feels that Dhoni's men have to stay cool and play to their potential.

Triple Olympian Nandnuri Mukesh Kumar, who featured in some of the big hockey finals against Pakistan, says the body language in the first few minutes holds the key.

“We should score a big point by moving about with a lot of confidence.”

The two Hyderabadis believe India can pull it off in Mohali.

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