Dhoni is the best finisher in the world: Kohli
Kohli feels that this win has put the team in a good stead ahead of the ICC World T20.
Virat Kohli termed Mahendra Singh Dhoni the “best
finisher in the world” after the India skipper made short work of
Bangladesh with a flurry of sixes and boundaries in the final of the
Asia Cup in Mirpur.
“I think Shikhar (Dhawan) played
himself in really nicely. My only aim was to keep going at the other end
so that the run-rate doesn’t stop. I had to understand my role. Once
Shikhar got towards the end of his innings, I hit two or three
boundaries which released pressure for us.
“Then MS
Dhoni came in and did what he does best. He is the best finisher in the
world. All in all, it was a wonderful game,” Kohli told bcci.tv after India lifted the Asia Cup trophy last night beating Bangladesh by eight wickets.
In
the last two overs, India required 19 runs and skipper Dhoni (20 not
out off six balls) hit a lethal six over deep mid-wicket off Al-Amin and
another terrific blow over deep extra cover before finishing the match
with another six.
Kohli feels that this win has put the team in a good stead ahead of the ICC World T20.
“It
is important that everyone stays confident and everyone stays in form.
Last few games we saw Yuvraj Singh playing crucial knocks. Suresh Raina
is always a dangerous player in T20 cricket, Rohit Sharma has been
magnificent and Dhoni knows his job more than anyone else. Hardik Pandya
is a beautiful striker and now Shikhar is back in form. I am striking
it decently as well.
“Everyone going into the T20
World cup is feeling good and confident and hopefully we can keep things
simple and continue this winning momentum forward. The boys have played
some really good cricket and it has been wonderful to be a part of such
magnificent run of form for the whole team,” said Kohli.
The
27-year-old batsman, who scored 41 not out to help India win Asia Cup
for the record sixth time, said he was happy to have contributed to the
team’s success.
“I am happy I am contributing at the
right times for the team. There were a lot of speculations about me when
I took rest for the tour against Sri Lanka. There were all sorts of
articles and things written about me questioning whether it was a right
move to rest at that point of time. There was a lot of negativity around
that decision that was made, but I knew that mentally I needed a break
and needed to refresh myself and comeback and do the same thing over and
over again.
“Good habits are really hard to create
and once you get them, you need to be in full flow and continue them day
in and day out. I think that break really helped me focus again and
continue what I did in Australia. I am really glad I could contribute in
all the games here,” he explained.
Elaborating on
the importance of Dhawan’s match-winning innings of 60, Kohli said,
“Shikhar is someone who always strikes the ball really well and it is
just a matter of one innings for him and you can see what he can do once
he gets into form. He is a big match player. We are banking on him in
the World T20. He has played really well in the IPL, he knows all the
grounds and the angles, conditions and the pitches and he has played
against all the bowlers from all the teams.”
Since Dhawan was hitting the ball well, Kohli said he decided to just stick around and provide him support.
“It
was absolutely wonderful batting from him and I am glad to see that he
took the team to a situation from where we could not lose. Hats off to
him for the way he played. I just needed to stick in there. My job was
to hang in there and let Shikhar do what he does best which is to attack
the bowlers.
“I think that is where a little bit of
experience counts where you understand the situation. You realise that
once a guy is going really good at the other end, you just rotate the
strike and hit the odd boundary in between so that he doesn’t feel
pressure,” the dashing batsman said.
ICC World T20, 2016
35 T20s . Mar 08-Apr 03
Mar 08, Tue
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 09, Wed
Bangladesh vs Netherlands, 3rd Match, Group A
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 10, Thu
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 11, Fri
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 12, Sat
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 13, Sun
Ireland vs Netherlands, 11th Match, Group A
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Start of main matches
Mar 15, Tue
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 16, Wed
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 17, Thu
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 18, Fri
Australia vs New Zealand, 17th Match, Super 10 Group 2
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 19, Sat
India vs Pakistan, 19th Match, Super 10 Group 2
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 20, Sun
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 21, Mon
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 23, Wed
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 25, Fri
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
South Africa vs West Indies, 27th Match, Super 10 Group 1
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 26, Sat
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 27, Sun
09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 28, Mon
02:00 PM GMT / 07:30 PM LOCAL
Mar 30, Wed
01:30 PM GMT / 07:00 PM LOCAL
Mar 31, Thu
01:30 PM GMT / 07:00 PM LOCAL
Apr 03, Sun
01:30 PM GMT / 07:00 PM LOCAL
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