India clinched the Asia Cup trophy after beating hosts Bangladesh by eight wickets in Mirpur last night and strengthened their reputation as a strong title contender for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20.
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From the initial phase, one team from among Bangladesh, Ireland, Oman and the Netherlands will advance to Group 2, which comprises Australia, India, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Virat Kohli is perhaps the best batsman in the world but the dashing 27-year-old Delhi run-machine feels that his limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the best finisher when it comes to the shorter formats of the game.
India’s T20 performance is running on the “sixth gear” and the success in Asia Cup will give the team the confidence to carry on.
“We don’t think too much about the expectations, the reason being it can put you under pressure”. Sehwag said Dhoni must lead the side at least till 2019 50-over World Cup in England.
The Twenty 20 World Cup is set to begin tomorrow, with world ranked number 1 and tournament hosts India undoubtedly the favourites.
“If he bats at number four, it is good for the team”. They played really well, we have exciting batsmen and bowlers, hopefully this team will carry on from here. So we are on track but fitness will be one of the concerns, because of it you may lose one of the first 11. “I think how we are playing cricket and the kind of stuff we are doing on the field is adequate enough for any level of game and we have to keep our intensity up and the focus should be there right from the very first ball”.
“I have said it long long ago”.
Asked if Kohli could be his successor as a finisher, Dhoni said the job was more applicable to a lower order batsman rather than Kohli who bats at the top of the order.
“The boys performed well to get us to the final and did their best in the final as well. I don’t think there are any more gears left for us to operate”.
Quizzed about his batting position, which he shuffles as per match situation, Dhoni said he would continue the finisher’s role of hitting it big in minimum deliveries. Every team is very good.
Speaking about the criticism he has been facing, Dhoni reiterated that had the team lost the Asia Cup, it would have been a bigger headline than their triumph on Sunday.
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India: MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra. “They have improved their strength”, said the skipper, predicting: “It will be a good final”.
