NEW DELHI: With the ICC World T20 approaching fast, will the Indian cricket team be able to defend the title it had won two years ago in South Africa?
Keeping in view India’s consistent performance around the world since that triumph, Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Co. appear the favourite but Pakistan great Wasim Akram thinks the defending champion can be a victim of playing non-stop cricket.
“India has more experience in T20, but has been playing for the last two years since the England tour. So, there is bound to be mental fatigue as well as injuries.
“But when you are playing the World Cup, the energy comes back and this can happen (to India),” Akram said on the occasion of the unveiling of the World T20 trophy here on Tuesday.
On whether India could be able to withstand the pressure of being the defending champion, Akram cited the example of Australia and said, “Some teams have the ability to enjoy pressure situations and thrive on it.”
The former Pakistan all-rounder credited it to India’s bench strength, which made it a tough side in world cricket. “India does not depend on a single player. Earlier, we used to think let’s get Sachin’s (Tendulkar) wicket and we would win. But now they are not dependent on a Sachin or a (Virender) Sehwag. They believe in themselves as a team…”
Former middle order batsman Sanjay Manjrekar thought India was a strong team on paper and “a worthy defending champion.”
Comparing India’s title defence in the 1987 World Cup to that of now, Manjrekar said, “Then India was not the best, a few other teams were above it. Now it’s the best team with lots of experience in T20 cricket.”
However, considering the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, the cricketer-turned-commentator refrained from forecasting whether India would retain the trophy.
“If it is Test cricket I will put my money on India, if it’s 50-over game I will put my money on India. But if it is T20, I will put my money in my pocket,” he said in a lighter vein.
Talking on individual players, Manjrekar said opener Gautam Gambhir’s form in the Indian Premier League concerned him.
“His body language was not great. It appears his confidence level is down. But Viru (Sehwag) does not look out of form,” he said.
On last year’s runner-up Pakistan, Akram said since the team had not played much cricket in recent times it would be “more hungry” for success.
“They performed well against Australia in Dubai and won the T20 match. So Pakistan has a chance,” he said.
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