Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni sought to downplay expectations about his side’s prospects at the World Twenty20 despite starting as roaring favourites to win the title on home turf.
Dhoni’s men have been on a roll since the start of the year, winning 10 out of 11 T20 internationals, with the latest being a comprehensive title-winning triumph over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.
Their recent form even led former opener Virender Sehwag to proclaim that the world’s No1 team had a “99 per cent” chance of winning the trophy for a second time.
India won the inaugural edition in 2007 and are gunning to become the tournament’s only two-time winners. Dhoni however refused to be pulled down by the weight of expectation.
“When it comes to expectations, I don’t think it is any less than what it was in the 2011 World Cup,” Dhoni, 34, said, referring to India’s winning campaign at home that year in the 50-over format.
“We don’t think too much about expectations, the reason being it can put you under pressure,” he said in Kolkata.
“We are looking to make a slow and steady progress, rather than think too far ahead,” said the wicket-keeping batsman.
India, hosting the format’s world cup for the first time, boast a string of players in form, starting with captain-in-waiting Virat Kohli.
Kohli, who already captains India in Tests, has nine fifties in his last 14 Twenty20 innings, and averages over 50 in the format.
Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have also hit a purple patch while the bowlers have impressed too, including off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
With the players looking well-settled, Dhoni said he saw no reason to tinker with team strategy.
“We are running on the sixth gear (although) I know technology has gone into the eighth gear,” he quipped.
“We have to keep our intensity up and focus should be there right from the very first ball.
“I think everything is set. I don’t think there are any more gears left for us to operate in.”
Meanwhile, India all-rounder Hardik Pandya said he hopes to follow in the footsteps of South African legend Jacques Kallis and excel with the bat and ball.
“Big things start with a dream. This was the dream. Yes, it’s fulfilling. I want to be like Jacques Kallis. What he has done for Proteas in batting and bowling. I want to do the same thing for India,” Pandya said.
Skipper Dhoni said Pandya has brought stability to team with his skills but the 22-year-old said there is no particular brief given to him.
“The best part is I’m not told anything. I’ve not been given any instruction. That’s something good for me. I can now read situations as I have got used to international pressure,” he said.