I don’t get the fear.

I don’t get why the Indian cricketing fraternity is trembling at the thought of playing Australia in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy.

I get that the past wounds haven’t healed yet and it is indeed a daunting task.

But such is sport.

None of the eleven representing our country is new to facing tough opponents – even when pitted against ones they have repeatedly been crushed by.

Kapil Dev’s India had no business winning the ’83 World Cup in an era dominated by merciless Caribbean legends.

Nor should Ganguly’s India have had the audacity of reaching the final of ’03 while battling the ruthless Aussie bullies.

These are just two occasions out of hundreds when repeated failure must have brought our morale down but you live to fight the next battle and the one after that.

The ghost of the past is dreadfully haunting but necessarily conquerable.

The eleven that defeated New Zealand yesterday have more than 2400 international matches between them, and way more domestic ones. Are we seriously doubting their capability and confidence due to a few losses?

I get the fear that our dream will shatter once again and that too at the hands of the same opponents.

I get the fear, but not with this Australian side, and especially not with this Indian side!

And such is sport. You don’t get to choose your opponent, only whether you step up to play. And that decision was made for every Indian player long before this so-called uphill semis battle.