#360debate: Will India win the World T20?

Sport360 staff 08:06 22/02/2016
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  • Early favourites: India.

    With the World Twenty20 competition on home soil next month, MS Dhoni’s India side will enter the competition as undeniable favourites for the title.

    However, despite India’s wealth of experience in T20 and history of success, it is very rarely that cricket’s shortest international format follows the script. The pressure will be on and the hosts will be expected to perform.

    Our #360 debate today is: Will hosts India win the ICC World Twenty20?

    JOY CHAKRAVARTY, DUBAI EDITOR, SAYS YES

    Barring the glorious uncertainties of the game, India look the best equipped to win the ICC World Twenty20 when it hosts the tournament March 8.

    They are the team in form – having won five out of the last six matches they have played. That run includes three successive win against Australia in Australia, and then a 2-1 series win against Sri Lanka a few days ago.

    They have a very settled look about them. The team balance is nice – the batsmen are all in great touch and the bowling looks a lot better with Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah at the top.

    Batting will be India’s biggest strength once again, and the entire top order is looking in supreme form. The only worry was the T20 form of Shikhar Dhawan, and even he turned it around against Sri Lanka.

    If Yuvraj Singh can now get a few runs, this will be a sensational unit.

    The trump cards for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, apart from the batting line-up, are spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. In between them, they have taken 21 wickets giving away just 273 runs in 46 overs in the last six matches. That’s an economy rate of 5.93 and an excellent strike rate of 13.

    Bumrah, with his unorthodox bowling action and pin-point yorkers, and Nehra, with his experience and guile, have also been tough to get away.

    Obviously, India face the Asia Cup challenge before the World Twenty20, but the performance in Bangladesh should not take away anything from their preparation towards the ICC event.

    The home team always has certain advantages – better knowledge of the playing conditions in different cities, support of the passionate fans, familiarity with the environs – but it also means they are under a lot more pressure. And yet, India have shown in the not too distant past that they have the ability to handle that aspect very well.

    They did a fantastic job at the 2011 World Cup, and they can reprise that same spirit next month.

    AJIT VIJAYKUMAR, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, SAYS NO

    No doubt India are strong contenders at the World T20 next month.

    Their great record at home makes the hosts a dangerous side for any team. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can be almost unplayable, as they proved against South Africa and Sri Lanka, on home pitches, and their top order of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli is one of the finest in contemporary limited overs cricket.

    Familiarity with the conditions is an added bonus.

    So why do I think they will not win the title? It’s because I am not an ardent supporter of Dhoni’s captaincy.

    He has definitely been the most successful captain the country has had, but I do believe it is losing its sheen. No doubt, T20 series wins in Australia and against Sri Lanka were a big boost to the morale of the team.

    But I still can’t get over the fact that Dhoni feels a woefully out-of-form and unfit Yuvraj Singh should be part of the World T20 plans, a run-machine like Ajinkya Rahane doesn’t fit into the scheme of things for now or that Indian cricket in general is not producing quality cricketers who can adjust to top-level cricket immediately.

    On Sunday, Dhoni was asked about his retirement plans and he lost his cool, showing that he is beginning to feel the strain. It is true that only runs and wickets matter, but the lack of connect between an energetic looking team and a captain uncertain about his own future will show up at some point, most probably during a high-pressure game next month.

    Another factor that is likely to work against the Indians is the slow legs of Ashish Nehra (37) and Yuvraj (34). With both in the outfield, India could leak runs and in T20 cricket, there is simply no room for such luxury.

    So while there is ample talent in the squad, the less than inspiring leadership of Dhoni and the presence of ageing stars make me believe that India will go far in the tournament but won’t get an opportunity to lift the coveted trophy

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