WE CAN DO IT: DHONI

ON THE EVE OF HIS TEAM’S DEPARTURE, DHONI SAYS THE BOYS ARE WELL-EQUIPPED TO DEFEND THE WORLD T20 CROWN

Mumbai: When India won the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa, just under two years ago, captain MS Dhoni sported long thick hair, an infectious smile and his eyes radiated hope and optimism. Twenty-one amazing months later, Dhoni has the onerous task of defending the crown.
A lot has happened since then. T20 has evolved and has emerged as the money-making monster that threatens to eat up all the other formats of the game. Cash-rich leagues have cropped up and batsmen and bowlers have got accustomed to innovation and dealing with pressure.
Something else has happened too. Dhoni’s hair is now thinner and dare one say greyer. His beard too has traces of grey. The media, who loved Dhoni’s direct and uninhibited style, now expect well-rehearsed and measured responses from the 27-year-old.
It was evident on Friday too as he addressed the media at a suburban hotel, just a few hours before the team left for England. Excerpts:
How do you rate the team’s chances?
Our team has players who are ideally suited to T20. We have specialist bowlers and the best part is we have part-timers who bowled really well in the IPL. They are all spinners and T20 has been good for spinners since 2007. The options allow me the chance to play an extra seamer if I want to. We are quite confident, but we cannot afford to relax and need to play to our potential.
Will the tag of defending champions drag the team down?
No. The IPL will help us here. The Indian players would have played more T20 games than any other side because of the four-foreigner rule. Our guys are more experienced. They have been thrown in different scenarios by the franchisees and that will enable them to deal with that pressure.
Concerns are being raised about the Indians being a fatigued lot…
If you are an Indian cricketer you get used to playing non-stop cricket. We, in India, have the kind of weather where we can play at least eight months in a year. I made my debut in December 2004 and have been playing non-stop. The important thing is knowing what to do and what not to when you get a break. The players are aware of that and they realize what they should do to sustain at this level for a long period of time.
There’s been a mystery over Zaheer’s injury. What’s the status now?
He is not 100 per cent fit at the moment. But he will get fit by the 2nd or the 3rd. We hope to have him fit by the first match of the tournament. (June 6 vs Bangladesh).
Aren’t you worried about the form of the opening batsmen?
Not at all. Both openers are very talented. It just takes an innings of 20-odd to get back in form. I don’t think they are completely out of form though.
And what about the reserve ‘keeper. Shouldn’t there have been one? What happens if you break down?
(Smiles, sarcastically). Hopefully, I won’t get injured. You need to ask the selectors why there is no reserve wicketkeeper.
Are you happy that India are placed in an easy group (with Bangladesh and Ireland)?
Weren’t we in an easy group in the 50-over format in the 2007 World Cup in West Indies? What happened? We lost to Bangladesh and were out. There is no point in thinking about all this.
From the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 to now, how has the T20 game evolved?
Batsmen have become more innovative and aggressive. Scoops over short fineleg and reverse sweeps to fast bowlers are strokes which you never saw before T20 came about. Captains too have begun taking chances like opening the attack with spinners. Basically, these are gambles. There are other changes too. Batsmen don’t look to hit everything from the first ball, they assess the conditions and play accordingly.
And what about Dhoni, the captain. How has he changed in two years?
I have more grey hair. My beard is greying too!