Before the onset of ICC T20 World Cup 2016 being played in India, the team will be playing many games in the shorter format for the early preparations. The way India has performed in Australia, surely makes them one of the favourites and prime contenders to win the cup at home. Let’s find out why India is perfectly poised to win the World cup this year.
Consistency in the top order
Both Rohit and Dhawan have been opening for India since past three years and look very comfortable to adapt in this format to provide their team a blistering start which is the primary need in the game. One down comes the upcoming legend Virat Kohli who alone averages 50 in T20 international cricket. This man has started taking giant strikes in cricket which the world is talking about and looks in tremendous touch at no.3.
Strong middle order
The batsmen to follow after Virat are Raina, Yuvraj and the captain cool himself. These players have been doing well in their job particularly in home soil. Dhoni loves to come at the end and just take it away with his hitting power. Yuvraj and Raina will gain some momentum in the next series against Sri Lanka. However younger players like Hardik Pandya needs to be tested before the cup.
Team balance
The return of T20 specialist Yuvraj Singh just before the World Cup has maintained that team balance which India had been looking for. He is not just a hard hitter of the ball, but also can be used as a part time bowler in home conditions. Fielding has improved as well with him in the field
Improved bowling
The main cause of worry for team India had been the bowling. However, the new bowler Bumrah seems to solve that riddle with his superb bowling performance in Australia. The spinners have also been brilliant as usual. It seems that whenever Jadeja and Ashwin comes to bowl, Dhoni owns the match.
Dhoni’s brilliance behind the stumps
No doubt Dhoni had been handling his bowlers well during pressure situations, but also using the bowling combinations brilliantly. He sense the period when to bring the spinners in the game or the part timers. Moreover, Dhoni has taught the world to win matches through run outs and stumpings.
He now holds the world record for most stumpings in international cricket. It seems that Dhoni anticipates the batsman’s position and the shot he will be going at. This quality has made him achieve what none other Indian captain has done in the history, winning all the ICC Tournaments and many trophies for the country.
