Indian team is in auto-pilot mode: MS Dhoni

ByArun S Kaimal, SportsCafe Editor

02/20/2016

Ahead of the Asia Cup T20 and World T20, Indian limited-overs team captain MS Dhoni reasserted his team’s chances at the tournaments by claiming that his team is in “auto-pilot mode.” India had recently registered series victories against Australia and Sri Lanka to be placed No.1 in the world in T20s.

After losing the first T20 against Sri Lanka in Pune, the Men in Blue bounced back to outclass the Lankans in the next T20s last week, and the Indian skipper believes that his team looks a settled side before the World T20 in March and are in “auto-pilot” mode.

“We have played T20s in Australia and the at home in recent times. The team is doing well. So, you can say that the team is in auto-pilot mode. Injuries have to be kept at bay. If every player is fit, and every player is in form then it is good for the team,” Dhoni said, as reported by PTI.

The 34-year old added that his T20 team is more balanced than the ODI team, which lost the series against Australia 1-4.

“As far as T20 is concerned, our bowling has been very good. And at the same time, if you compare it with 50 overs it becomes a bit different. Because in 20 overs you know after one or two balls, batsman will want to go for a big shot, they will play aggressive cricket so you can play around with that.

“Sometimes in the 50-over format, we talk about building pressure and when playing outside India, if you don’t get wickets in middle overs, the pressure builds up, especially on the spinners and then on the fast bowlers in the slog overs.

“So that way, we can say that we are not very consistent in death bowling in the 50 overs. In T20, we are looking very good as of now. The consistency is there for all to see be in death bowling or the first six overs in India or outside. The bowling attack, overall, is pretty balanced,” Dhoni said on the sidelines of a launch.

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However, India received a blow on Friday after pacer Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the Asia Cup T20 in Bangladesh, next week. But the skipper believes that his team is well capable of handling any eventualities.

“Sometimes we have to leave someone, so that overall balance of the team remains intact. Even if a player is ill or gets injured for two matches then also we have to ensure his replacement is there in the team.

“But at the same time it’s ideal if a player is capable of being picked for more than one situation rather than saying that he can only be a replacement for one individual. Overall if we see at the 15 it looks like a very balanced squad. There are players to replace in any eventualities,” the 34-year old said.

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Indian team is in auto-pilot mode: MS Dhoni

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