Dhoni’s best chance to bag third World title, says Sehwag

The former India opener feels Dhoni has a well-composed combination. “The way we are playing right now, India are the favourites for World Twenty20. We have a good chance of winning the tournament,” said Sehwag. 

The World Twenty20 will be played across seven Indian cities from March 15 to April 3 with the final to be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. “It also depends on how we play on match-days; where we play, what kind of wickets we get; these things will matter a lot. 

India playing at home definitely makes them favourites. If we perform well in all three departments, no one can stop India from winning the World T20,” said the former Indian opener. Sehwag feels the overall combination of the team makes India the “best in the world”, but obviously predicting is one thing and delivering it another. 

The former international was effusive in his praise for Aashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. “Our team is playing very well. Each department is performing whether it is batting, bowling or fielding in comparison to other teams. 

Our pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra and Hardik Pandya are doing well. So are our spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja,” said Sehwag, the only Indian batsman to score two triple centuries in Test cricket. “Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina can also bowl spin. Plus, we also bat deep. 

After Dhoni, Ashwin and Pandya can also bat. Hence, overall the combination is the best in the world. But then anyone can predict. India have to play well to make our predictions come true.” Sehwag, who has played 104 Tests and 251 One-Day Internationals (ODI), further said that Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have developed into a good opening pair,’’ he said. 

Sehwag, who scored 38 international hundreds in a career ranging from 1999 to 2013, also felt happy for old friend Ashish Nehra, who made a comeback to the Indian team at the age of 36. Sehwag though warned India of tough competition from Australia, South Africa, West Indies, England and Pakistan.