Dhoni aims to emulate West Indies, Australia's World Cup glory

[Switchblade]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Dhoni-aims-to-emulate-West-Indies-Australias-World-Cup-glory/articleshow/30390332.cms Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said that India would aim to be the only third side in history to clinch back-to-back Cricket World Cup titles by winning the tournament which will be held in Australia-New Zealand next year. Dhoni said his side was shaping up nicely and confident of emulating Australia and the West Indies to win back-to-back Cricket World Cups. "It is amazing to think that it is just one year until we defend our ICC Cricket World Cup title as that means it is almost three years since we won the trophy on that amazing night in Mumbai. The memories of that night and of the whole tournament are as fresh and as special as ever," said Dhoni, in an ICC release to mark one year to go to the start of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. "We know that defending the ICC Cricket World Cup is something that only the West Indies and Australia have done over the whole history of the tournament but with the quality we have in and around our squad we believe we can become the third side to do it," he said. The tournament will be staged in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29, with India to open its title defence against arch rival and 1992 champion Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15. Dhoni, who hit the winning runs in Mumbai when India won the title in front of a full-house in 2011, added that his side had players who were capable of handling the pressure of a global event, and that the victory in ICC Champions Trophy in the UK last year proved that his team has the firepower and ability to excel outside its own territory. "We have a group of players who are experienced at playing in high-pressure situations and we have already shown we are capable of dealing with the dual pressures of being world champions and coping in overseas conditions at a major ICC event by winning the ICC Champions Trophy in the UK last year," Dhoni added. While India won its first title in 1983 under Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd led the West Indies to titles in 1975 and 1979, and Steve Waugh (1999) and Ricky Ponting (2003 and 2007) were at the helm when Australia won the tournament in England, South Africa and the West Indies. Dhoni, who occupies sixth position in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen, said the New Zealand tour has allowed his side to experience the conditions it will face during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which, in turn, has helped his side to prepare for next year's tournament. "Although we did not win our latest ODI series in New Zealand, it has given us valuable experience of what we can expect in 12 months' time. "The next year is now all about getting our plans in place and remaining confident and if we can do that we will be in a good place by the time the action starts next February. I remember the joy that winning Cricket World Cup brought to all Indians all over the world in 2011 and we want to do the same again by playing to the best of our ability in 2015," he said. Australia captain Michael Clarke, who was just 11 years old when Australia last hosted the Cricket World Cup in 1992, said he was thrilled the event was returning to his country. "The ICC Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of one-day cricket and we're thrilled that it's going to be held in our own backyard," said Clarke, whose side will lock horns with England on the opening day of the tournament in Melbourne. "The best players in world will be coming to Australia and New Zealand and we're looking forward to playing good entertaining cricket. I encourage as many Australians and New Zealanders as possible to get behind this amazing event," Clarke added. Brendon McCullum, whose men will go head to head with Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Christchurch, hoped his country will get behind it as New Zealand eyes its maiden World Cup title. "We're travelling well at the moment with a number of young guys having stepped up against the West Indies and India. The team has had tremendous support over the summer, so we're keen to continue our current form into the World Cup and get the whole country behind us," said McCullum.

[Gollum]

:hysterical::cantstop::haha: With this bowling attack and this dumbhead captain we will emulate 2007 Dravid team.

[skindia]

lost 5-6 away odis in a trot...and dreaming now

[skindia]

Remove nohit from opening position and we will win.

[skindia]

I think NZ having best chance..

[zumi]

it seems this is the only thing driving him, results from everything else are oblivius to him.

[Cricket_Hacker]

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[vvvslaxman]

Which West Indies he is going to emulate? One that gets it ass kicked in recent years?

[Pagalpanti]

Come on MS, we all know India is capable but you just can't come out with these sorta statements after being 0-4 down in ODI's vs a no. 8 side where the world cup is gonna be held. :facepalm:

[putrevus]

Dhoni is spot on they can very well beat any team in world, the team combination needs to be right . 0-7 in odis is nothing in big picture, I dont see any team stronger than India in world cup 2015. Only threats to India will be host countries.

[jf1gp_1]

Like most team we have issue the problem is our team has fundamental problems. No wicket taking ODI bowler, None of the bowler can contain flow of runs. COming to batsman half of team doesnt believe in taking singles, no hitters either in middle order or down the order. The only thing going for us was fielding even that was in trouble both in SA and NZ ODIs.

[GautiMaan]

Hard to keep these guys down

[Number]

I think we have a good chance. Just need somebody else to kick Aus out.

[Sachin=GOD]

I won't count India out of the WC race so early.

[Gollum]

The present Aussie team will butcher our rockstars in their pitches 10 times out of 10. Who is gonna stop the Aussies I have no idea.

[rahulrulezz]

I just can't stand Dhoni anymore.. He represents our typical Indian society where a powerful family (Gandhi's) make decisions for the whole India to get more power and money, and our typical Indian people just become slaves to the system.. Dhoni is now that elite power hungry person who doesn't have to justify anything ..I don't see a zilch of passion in his eyes anymore while representing India aand his only goal is to make money and gain power..his fan bois will not let anyone touch him....

[putrevus]

Only Indian team goes thru so much scrutiny for every single match,the odi team especially has won many big games and has done very well. It is so unfair to expect these guys just to move from one country to another country with out even having any time or any practice games . they are straight away put under microscope and expected to deliver. They play insane amount of matches and no time to enjoy their success nor analyze their failures it is like constant cycle which is non stop. Both odi series SA and NZ played so many prior games on their home grounds and India had to face both of them cold with out any practice both team ran into form also. They will get the team composition right as they have the nucleus, replacing guy like Yuvi takes time and this team is very young.

[adi B]

By playing pishant and 2 spinners :haha:

[Yoda-esque]

I just can't stand Dhoni anymore.. He represents our typical Indian society where a powerful family (Gandhi's) make decisions for the whole India to get more power and money, and our typical Indian people just become slaves to the system.. Dhoni is now that elite power hungry person who doesn't have to justify anything ..I don't see a zilch of passion in his eyes anymore while representing India aand his only goal is to make money and gain power..his fan bois will not let anyone touch him....

So you can actually look into his eyes and see all that? Hmm

[TNAmarkFrmIndia]

It's horrible timing considering we just got our asses handed to us in South Africa and New Zealand. But it's possible we could do well. Maybe we would overachieve just like we did in the 2003 World Cup, 2007 World T20 and 2013 Champions Trophy.