Mumbai: Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have a massive role in India’s bid to regain the World Cup (WC), coach Ravi Shastri said Tuesday, harping on the veteran’s ability to influence the game’s little moments.
“Massive as it has always been,”” Shastri told reporters when asked what he thinks would be Dhoni’s role in the ICC’s upcoming showpiece.
“He (Dhoni) is right there, his communication has been fantastic. As a keeper, he has shown over the years that no one is better than him in this format, not just in taking catches, inflicting those run-outs or stumping. There are these little moments in the game which can change it on the head and there was no one better than him to handle those,” the Indian coach added at the team’s pre-departure press conference.
Dhoni, who will be playing in his fourth World Cup, amassed 416 runs at an average of 83.2 in the last IPL and led Chennai Super Kings to the final, and Shastri said he was impressed with his footwork during the tournament.
“It is great to see the way he was moving in the IPL especially when he was batting, the footwork, the power with which he was hitting the shots, he will be a big player in this World Cup,” Shastri pointed out.
The former Indian captain said it would be the most challenging World Cup considering the quality of the opposition teams and the change in format.
“It will be very challenging. If you look at 2014 and 2019 now, the gap has become closer between the teams. You see what Afghanistan, Bangladesh were in 2014 and what they are now, so it is a strong competition. West Indies, on paper, is as strong as any other team,” Shastri informed.
Shastri said India will have to be flexible since overcast conditions can change things at the Old Blighty. “I think our mantra will be to be flexible according to the conditions because this is one country in the world where the pitches may be flat but if there is overcast condition then you have to be up for it,” Shastri stated.
“In no other country, overcast conditions matter so much but in England they do, London might not make that difference but if you go up north and it does get overcast then you will see things happen, so we have to be ready for that and prepare to be flexible for every situation,” added the coach.
Shastri believed that India shouldn’t try to do anything differently and only play to their potential. “This team have played good cricket in last five years. They have been striving for consistency. They will not play any differently because it is World Cup. They need to enjoy it and if they play to their potential the Cup can be ours,” Shastri stated candidly.
Talking about the bowling attack, the coach said that it has the experience and talent to succeed in all conditions.
“This is an experienced unit. They have been together for the last 4-5 years, they have bowled as a unit together, they accomplished what they set out to do in Tests and the endeavour will be the same here as well, to complement each other and keep the pressure right through the 50 overs,” Shastri stated.
PTI