Dhoni backs bowlers to shine

MS Dhoni has hoped for a good performance from his bowlers in the upcoming T20 WC in Bangladesh.

Speaking to the press after landing in Dhaka, the Indian captain emphasised the need for the bowlers to execute their plans to become successful. "They have to execute their plans, I think that will really help them. Overall, it will be a good challenge for them," he said.

India have been one country that has not played a lot of T20 internationals in the recent past. In fact, the team has featured in only five T20 internationals since the end of the 2012 T20 WC. While conceding that India's preparations were on the lighter side, Dhoni also noted that almost all the players have the experience of playing at the big stage, a result of having played in the Indian Premier League.
"Most of the teams, if you see, don't play a lot of T20s," Dhoni said. "Especially with the kind of schedule we have, I don't think we'll be able to accommodate more than one or two T20s. That is something that I will always face.

"At the same time, we have got the IPL where we have played with the best players and the standard there is as high as international standards so that really amounts to the experience we need."

After the strenuous tours of South Africa and New Zealand, Dhoni missed the Asia Cup with a side strain. The break seems to have had a rejuvenating effect on the skipper. "I always look at the positive side. For me the positive side was that I got some rest," Dhoni, who led India to victory in the inaugural edition of the T20 WC in 2007, said.

"I was at home, no work, nothing just watching television.

"Overall it was a break for 10-12 days and I am back playing international cricket."

India are placed in a tough pool with defending champions, West Indies, arch-rivals, Pakistan and the dangerous floaters, Australia making up the group. The final spot in the group will be known after the qualifiers.

"The group is very tough and for us all the matches will be important. And we will take learning from the last T20 WC, where we lost just one match. Every game will have its own importance. Before that we have got warm up matches also. We will try out our combinations and see to that that maximum players get chance so that before the first match we can have our playing XI ready," Dhoni said.

India will begin their campaign on March 21st against Pakistan, a team that they have never lost to in ICC tournaments.