As fans eagerly await the outcome of yet another high-voltage T20 World Cup match – India vs Pakistan, we look back at a powerful reminder from Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev – “The hunger for victory must not die, the appetite must remain strong.”
With the match underway at the R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo, Kapil Dev’s words cut through the din of hype and rivalry. Sports or any cricket match is never just about skill – it is also about temperament, belief and hunger.
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The winner of Sunday’s match between India and Pakistan will become the first team from Pool A to qualify for the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup.
What does Kapil Dev’s quote mean?
Kapil Dev’s message is simple but profound: success can quietly dull ambition if the ‘crave’ to achieve more begins to fade. Winning once is an achievement; staying hungry for success is what creates champions.
“The hunger for victory must not die” suggests that complacency is the biggest threat to any team. When a team or one starts relying solely on past glories, the team risks losing the edge that made them successful.
The ‘appetite’ that Kapil Dev talks about goes beyond scoring runs or wickets in a cricket match or the hunger to win in any sport. It’s about intensity, discipline, preparation and maintaining a mental edge — in sports and in life.
India’s track record in Men’s T20 World Cup against Pakistan
Since the T20 World Cup began in 2007, India have largely dominated Pakistan on the tournament’s biggest stage with seven wins and one defeat: