Mumbai, April 27 (IANS) As the Indian cricket team left for the West Indies for the ICC World Twenty20 starting Friday, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Tuesday made light of Yuvraj Singh's poor form, saying he was a key player and loves to perfrom on the big stage.
Dhoni was positive about the team's chances in the tournament and said he has a much bigger and talented pool of players compared to the IPL franchise, which would make his job easier.
'The IPL is over and now we shift to international cricket which is much bigger than playing for a franchise. We have got the best of talented cricketers and I see no reason why we cannnot be the winners. We have to plan well because it is a kind of format where the strongest team can be beaten by the weakest side. Most of the teams have the potential to do well so it is difficult to talk about favourites,' Dhoni said.
'Now we play throughout the year. We are together almost the whole year so gelling together is not a concern,' said Dhoni.
The Indian captain also said the players are injury free and it is a good sign for the team.
'We have got the potential in the side. Everybody will have to play with responsibility. We do not have injuries to any player and that should help us. If the players are injured then it becomes difficult to execute your plans,' said Dhoni, who was in the spotlight in last year's IIC World Twenty20 in England because of Virender Sehwag's injury.
Sehwag, who pulled out midway through the tournament due to his shoulder injury, will miss the action this year also because of a troubling shoulder.
Asked if they have got enough time to practise as only four days are left for their first match against Afghanistan Saturday, Dhoni said they will have to make the best use of whatever little time they have.
'The schedule is the same for all the teams. The other teams are also in a similar situation. We will certainly do what we can. It is our responsibility to make sure that we are well planned and well prepared.'
Dhoni appeared confident about Yuvraj's form.
'Yuvraj is a great player. He is one of the biggest hitters of the ball and can contribute with the ball. He has not scored too many runs in IPL but it is not a worrying factor. In T20, you can get back to form in a matter of a few balls. He is hitting the ball well, it's just that sometimes things do not go your way. He is a kind of player who loves to perform on the big stage.'
Talking about the strengths of the team, Dhoni said: 'The bowlers have perfromed well. We have five bowlers and part timers. They are tried and tested and have the experience. They know how to bowl in a situation. Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan bowled with the new ball in IPL so that is also an option for us, depending on the wicket. Fielding will also play a key role in the tournament.'
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