What we talk about when we talk about pressure

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) Buy War Minus Shooting - Mike Marqusee | Buy Cricket Beyond the Bazaar - Mike Coward 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