Dhoni Labels India ‘One of the Most Dangerous Teams’ Ahead of T20 World Cup

MS Dhoni believes India enter the upcoming T20 World Cup as one of the most formidable sides in the tournament, citing their depth, experience and consistency, while also warning of the unpredictable nature of the format.

India are the defending champions and arrive at the World Cup in dominant form, boasting a 51–8 win-loss record in T20 internationals since October 2023. Their batting line-up features some of the most destructive hitters in world cricket, while the bowling attack is spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, widely regarded as among the best in the format.

“What all is needed in a good team, everything is there,” Dhoni said while speaking at an event. “They have the experience, especially in this format. The players have been in pressure situations and they’ve been performing their roles for a long time.”

Despite India’s strengths, Dhoni pointed to dew as a potential concern, particularly in night matches where conditions can heavily favour the chasing side.

“What worries me, I hate dew,” he said. “Dew changes a lot of things. Even when I was playing, it was something that really scared me because the toss becomes so crucial.”

Dhoni also underlined the inherent volatility of T20 cricket, where individual brilliance on a given day can overturn form and reputation.

“If we play ten matches against the best teams, we will come out winners more often than not, provided the conditions are neutral,” he said. “The problem comes when a few of your players have an off day and someone from the opposition has a brilliant one. That can happen in T20 cricket.”

Injuries and role clarity, Dhoni added, could prove decisive as the tournament progresses, especially in the knockout stages.

“Nobody should get injured. Whatever roles are given, people should accomplish them,” he said. “If that happens, I don’t want to jinx it, but this is one of the most dangerous teams.”

India will look to translate their dominance in bilateral series into another successful World Cup campaign as they aim to defend their title on the global stage.