Kolkata: Excited about their successful build up to the World Twenty20, Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said the team was already in a sixth gear but they should not take it for granted since the tournament was happening in their own backyard.
The world no 1 India have won 10 of their 11 last T20I matches that includes a seven match winning spree as they have won hat-trick of titles – bilateral series against Australia, Sri Lanka and then Asia Cup a couple of days back.
“I think we are running on sixth gear. Technology has gone into the eighth gear but the kind of stuff we are doing on the field is adequate for any level of game. We have to see the focus should be on from the very first ball. I think everything is set, there’re not anymore gears to operate upon. I’m really quite happy with the progress,” Dhoni said at the pretournament news conference.
“Let’s not say it’s happening in India so it belongs to us. Especially in the shorter formats the difference becomes smaller and smaller. Every team has a chance, if we play to our potential and execute our plans then we definitely have a chance.”
Dhoni said it was a big relief for him to see their bowling coming to terms with the young duo of Jaspit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya combining well with the veteran Ashish Nehra.
“Definitely I feel happy it’s a big relief. It’s a relief to have death bowlers. 99 per cent of the time I know who’s bowling the death. The job becomes easy. Whole bowling department is doing well. I don’t have to put a lot of effort.”
Preparation wise the build up to India’s successful campaign in winning the 2011 World Cup may be different but expectation wise it’s the same as they prepare to get back the WorldTwenty20 title since their win in inaugural edition in 2007, the World Cup winning Indian skipper said.
“Frankly it’s the difficult to remember the 2011. When it comes to expectation I don’t think it’s any lesser than in2011.
“It’s difficult to remember the preparation we went through before the 2011 World Cup but as far as this preparation is concerned we have had a perfect scenario. We won the Australia series, bilateral series with Sri Lanka, than winning a tournament like Asia Cup, we are looking right on track.
“Fitness will be one of the concerns. Because of fitness you may lose one of the first XI. Unless it’s a ball hit injury or like that, we will be quite happy.
“I always felt good when it comes to batting. Up and down keeps happening in the batting department. You have to see the opportunity you’re getting. It depends how much opportunity. I felt I had a decent opportunity. 90 per cent of time I will be playing the same kind of role as I played in the Asia Cup, playing 10-12 ball innings. I’m ready for the challenges.
“Not thinking much of expectation as it will give you more pressure. We have prepared well. We have won two three series will get confidence from that. Team looks settled in all departments. Once you qualify for the knockouts I feel it’s really important to be on top of your game.
India will face West Indies in a warm up March 10 to start their WorldTwenty20 proceedings at the Eden which will also host the summit clash April 3.
The Indian skipper however said they’re not thinking too far but it’s about be in the top of the game in the knockouts.
“I feel it’s a long to think of final. We will slowly go into warm up games and take one game at a time. All sides are very good. Every side has two or three players who can win match on their own. I feel slow and steady progress is very important. The buildup will depend on the way we start. I don’t think I will have to worry about the final. We will have to worry about the preparation and execution.
The wickets, Dhoni said, will suit the batsmen in the World Twenty20 keeping in mind of the spectators interest.
“The wickets were really different. Australia wickets were the best to bat on, not much movement but the first game in Pune was completely different, more like English condition. Start of Asia Cup was in more favour of the seamers, difficult to hit. The final wicket was the best to bat, very similar to subcontinent wickets. Normally in a tournament like this you will get flatter wickets to have much more entertaining for spectators. The pattern in these tournaments is generally more in favour of the batsmen.”
With the format being supremely unpredictable, there’s hardly any difference between between the 10 teams who will play the main round, said the skipper of the no 1 T20I side.
“It’s difficult to measure the challenges. It’s a world class tournament. Every team is very good. Every team has a set of players who can play big shots. All teams have fantastic bowlers and good all rounders. It’s quite even, it’s not like you’re far away from each other. I feel at start everything will boil down to how well you play on the particular day. I don’t think you can take a side lightly, a big hitter can really change a game if he plays a big innings.”
With Bumrah and Pandya having cemented their places in the side, the team has no place for Bhuvenshwar Kumar and Pawan Negi and Dhoni said it’s good to have problems of plenty.
“You want to have the best XI as per as the conditions are concerned. We don’t want to experiment too much. Two warmup games will give us the opportunity to give everyone chances.”
Talking about his role in the team, Dhoni said he’s flexible in the side and it’s all about finishing the game.
“When it comes to my role, I felt not everybody can be flexible according to needs. At times if you have a good partnership, and if you have the flexibility and adaptability the job becomes easier. This kind of adaptability is needed. We have played enough cricket to be open to the idea.”
Opinion may be divided about whether Virat Kohli or Dhoni was a finisher in the time, and the Indian skipper it’s always a luxury when your top order gets it going but added said it’s the no 5-6-7 who finish the game.
“For me a finisher is a lower order batsman. The top order batsman is always sets up the innings but it’s always useful to have somebody like Virat at no 3 who has the ability to finish the game. But when the opposition scores big it is important for your 5-6-7 to finish the game.
“The entire set up is for the lower order batsman to finish the game. But I think the finishers will be the batsmen who usually bat lower down the order. The job profile is very different. You have to think twice before hitting lower down the order as you have less batsmen after you. It’s a complex job. If you have three batsmen of Virat calibre then more often than not they will finish,” he said.
Replying to the critics, Dhoni reiterated had they lost the Asia Cup would have been a bigger headline than their triumph Sunday.
“I’m not here to give answers to anyone. As I said earlier, India losing the Asia Cup final is a bigger headline than winning it. People will keep talking about a lot of stuff. But from mindset it’s important to know the responsibility you have in the team. They will always criticise but from a player’s side it’s important to know what the team needs. You don’t always have to look good.”
Courtesy – PTI