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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016
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Confident India begin title bid with New Zealand game
C O M M E N TA RY
ICC World T20 starts in real earnest now
T Dhoni’s men will be wary of the fact that they have never beaten New Zealand in T20s in four outings in the past, including once during their stunning title run in the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa
NAGPUR: The superb build-up run has made India the clear favourites for an unprecedented second World Twenty20 title but the in-form hosts will have to guard against complacency when they take on a spirited New Zealand in their campaign-opener here on Tuesday. No host country has won the T20 world title in the last five editions and none has repeated a title triumph, but India’s settled combination, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and familiarity with the conditions make them the odds-on favourites to script history. The 2007 Champions, India go into the Super 10 Group 2 clash against New Zealand with their tails up as the No. 1 ranked team in the world. India have been on a roll in the shortest form of the game, winning their last seven outings which included a 3-0 whitewash of world 50-over champions Australia in the latter’s backyard. They then went on to win the Asia Cup on a canter after beating Sri Lanka at home 2-1. The five consecutive wins in
BIG MATCH: New Zealand’s Kane Williamson shakes hands with India’s Shikhar Dhawan during a practice session in Nagpur on Monday. – PTI
‘Expecting spin to play big role’ NAGPUR: Wary of spin friendly surface in the tournament-opener against India, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said adapting to the conditions will be a big challenge for his side in the World Twenty20, here on Monday. New Zealand had struggled against England spinners in their warm-up game as well. “We certainly are expecting spin to pay a big part in this tournament. I suppose judging by the warm-up games in
Dhaka, including in the summit clash against Bangladesh that led to their continental supremacy in the T20 game, has given the team a huge morale boost.
Mumbai, they had a bit for the seamers and it swung a little bit. They were very good surfaces but from what cricket we have seen here in Nagpur, spin looks likely to play a big part. It’s important that we adjust our game plans accordingly,” Williamson said. “Whenever you play around the world, you need to adapt to different conditions. As you say, we have been playing a bit of cricket at home, it is important that we make those adjustments coming into this tournament.” - Agencies
However, Dhoni’s men will be wary of the fact that they have never beaten New Zealand in T20s in four outings in the past, including once during their stunning ti-
tle run in the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa. But in home conditions, India would be a big threat to the rest of the competitors, including New Zealand. The minor hiccup in India’s build-up to this competition was their loss to South Africa by four runs in a practice match and this was perhaps a wake-up call for the team to avoid being complacent. India do have the wherewithal and the personnel to script history and a win in Tuesday’s opening game at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha would give them the ideal momentum to take on the challenges ahead head-on. Virat Kohli has been in terrific form, in the last two months. On top of his game, the Test skipper has made four half-centuries in seven innings, and two other scores in the 40s, besides leading four successful run-chases. With an average of over 50 after 38 matches, he remains one of the players who will be feared by the opposition along with the equally talented Rohit Sharma who is set to play in his sixth World T20. - PTI
he ICC World Twenty20 starts in real earnest now that the qualifiers are done with. Afghanistan and Bangladesh have deservedly won their way into the Super 10 leaving the teams that fancied themselves to find more excuses for their failure to step up and walk the talk. The sense of entitlement with which some of these associates talk is hard to understand especially when you look at their performances when it comes to playing in ICC events even with some ‘convenient national players’ where they invariably come a cropper against the full member teams. Afghanistan have over the years walked the talk and showed why they should be seriously considered for promotion to the higher echelons of the game in limited overs cricket. For a country which is having the kind of issues that it has, its cricket team brings so much joy with the unbridled manner in which they bat, bowl and field. India open their campaign against a tricky opponent in New Zealand. The Kiwis may be without their charismatic and talismanic skipper Brendon McCullum but they have enough classy players to hold their own against any team. In Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor and the incredibly talented Kane Williamson they have a batting lineup which is second to none. Then there is the finisher Corey Anderson who can swing the game in a matter of an over and with the attack of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and co the Kiwis have enough ammunition to take on anybody. India have been on a roll in the T20 format and they
The sense of entitlement with which some of these associates talk is hard to understand
will look to keep the rhythm going. For once their bowling is coming good with the experienced Nehra and young Bumrah and Pandya using the new ball well. The spinners Ashwin and Jadeja are also doing a great job and Dhoni has the option of using Raina and Yuvraj if one of the bowlers is having a bad day. Most importantly it is a fielding unit that is on par with the best of international teams and so saves runs and effects run-outs which can turn the game around. Shikhar Dhawan is benefiting from the games that he has played for he seems to be a bit slow getting into his flow in limited overs series. Now that he has had successive big scores under his belt he will be keen to carry on and give the start that the team is looking for. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been in terrific form and if the Nagpur pitch is the batting beauty that it usually is then there could be a feast of runs on the opening day itself. - PMG