In episode 156 of the 81allout podcast we are joined by former India Test cricketer and Ranji Trophy colossus Abhinav Mukund - who has now turned into an astute analyst on TV. Abhinav is piqued by Kartikeya Date's latest article in ESPNcricinfo (Do India choke in high-profile ODIs) and shares his perspective on how a player approaches (and talks about pressure), and weighs in on the question: is pressure a good parameter to explain the result of a match?

 Talking Points:

The times when a player feels he is in the 'middle of a volcano'
How players talk about the game and their part in it
What players mean when they talk about 'pressure'
Does pressure affect performance in a sustained manner?
Talking about skill v talking about mental faculties
Is it fair for strangers to make assumptions about players' mental abilities?
The problem with attributing the result to mental strength/weaknesses
What happened to South Africa in the 2015 World Cup semi-final?
The value of finding a mindspace when 'nothing matters' 

Participants:
Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav)
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)
Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview)

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Related:

‘I have found my love for the game in the last couple of years’ – 81allout podcast speaks to Abhinav Mukund on his career and challenges
Do India choke in high-profile ODIs? Here's what the numbers say - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo
Why there's no such thing as a finisher in ODI cricket - Kartikeya Date - ESPNcricinfo
What pressure does to cricketers - Aakash Chopra - ESPNcricinfo
The mother of all myths - The Cricket Monthly - Tom Eaton on the narrative of South Africa choking in World Cups
What Is Clutch? A Look at the Most Overused Term in Sports - Rob Goldberg - Bleacher Report
Cognitive Biases in Sports: The Irrationality of Coaches, Commentators and Fans - Samuel McNerney - Scientific American