Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 4: Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has voiced strong confidence in the Indian men’s team ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, saying the side has the right blend of experience, skill and balance to thrive in a high-pressure global tournament.
Dhoni said India’s biggest strength lies in how well players understand and execute their roles, especially under pressure. He noted that the squad is consistently in a match-ready mindset, whether with the bat or the ball, which gives them a decisive edge over rivals.
“It’s one of the most dangerous teams. They are always prepared — whether it’s batting or bowling,” Dhoni said while speaking at an event. “What do you need in a good team? Everything is there. They have experience, and in this format the experience is massive. They have played under pressure, and players have been performing their roles for a long time now.”
While expressing optimism, the former World Cup-winning captain pointed out that external factors can still derail the best-laid plans in white-ball cricket. Chief among them, he said, is dew, which can dramatically alter playing conditions and make the toss disproportionately influential.
“What worries me? I hate dew,” Dhoni admitted. “Dew changes a lot of things. Even when I was playing, it was something that scared me because the toss becomes so crucial. If we play 10 matches against top teams under neutral conditions, we’ll win more often than not.”
Dhoni also underlined the inherent unpredictability of the T20 format, where a single off day or an exceptional performance from the opposition can shift momentum entirely.
“The problem comes when some of your players have an off day and someone from the other team has a brilliant one,” he said. “That’s T20 cricket. It can happen in the league stage or in the knockouts. That’s when you just hope things go your way — no injuries, and everyone delivers on the roles assigned to them.”
His remarks reflect both confidence in India’s depth and realism about the fine margins that often decide outcomes in the shortest format of the game.