Press Trust of India
Kolkata, March 8: The perfect build-up and distinct home advantage certainly give India an edge heading into the World Twenty20 Championships but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said here Tuesday that his team cannot afford to take things for granted given the format’s fickle nature.
“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. I am really quite happy with the progress,” Dhoni said at the pre-tournament news conference here.
India will be up against New Zealand in their opening match in Nagpur, March 15. “Let’s not say it’s happening in India so it belongs to us. Especially in the shorter formats, the difference becomes very small. Every team has a chance, if we play to our potential and execute our plans then we definitely have the possibility to emerge champions,” Dhoni added.
Dhoni said it was a big relief for him to see that the young duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya having managed to gel with the team along with comeback veteran Ashish Nehra.
“Definitely, I feel happy, it’s a big relief. To have good death bowlers is also another development. Now I am aware of what I need to do during the game. My job has certainly become easy,” Dhoni added.
On the preparation front, the build-up to India’s successful campaign in winning the 2011 World Cup may have been different but expectations are the same, opined the Indian limited-overs skipper.
“Frankly it’s the difficult to remember the 2011 World Cup. When it comes to expectations, I don’t think it’s any lesser than in 2011. It’s difficult though to remember the preparations we went through before the 2011 World Cup but as far as this preparation is concerned, we have had a perfect scenario,” pointed out Dhoni.
“We won the Australia series, the bilateral series with Sri Lanka, than winning a tournament like Asia Cup, we are on the right track. Fitness will be one of the concerns during the event. I wouldn’t like to lose any player due to fitness,” MSD added.
Quizzed about his batting position which he shuffles as per the match situation, Dhoni said he would continue the finisher’s role of hitting it big in minimum deliveries.
“I always feel good when it comes to batting. Up and down keeps happening in the batting department. You have to utilise the opportunities that come your way. I enjoy being the finisher and that is the role you are going to see me play here also,” Dhoni informed.
