Dhoni dreaming of Lord's glory

Indis were crowned World Twenty20 champions last October

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India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni dreams of emulating predecessor Kapil Dev in lifting an international trophy at Lord’s.

On the eve of the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup launch, Indian superstar Dhoni admitted it would take another great team effort to replicate the success of Kapil’s men a quarter of a century ago.

India won their maiden global event with a surprise World Cup final victory over West Indies 25 years ago this Wednesday.

And Dhoni’s team will be one of the favourites for next summer’s inaugural 20-over version of the event, having won the ICC World Twenty20 last year.

“Of course I would love to do that,” said Dhoni.

“But it’s the team that makes a good captain and I like to distribute the pressure and responsibility around the whole team.

“It would be a dream to lift the trophy at Lord’s but I don’t want to look that far ahead and if it does happen it would be an all-round team effort.”

Before India triumphed in South Africa last September there had been little appetite for the shortest form of the game on the subcontinent.

Since then, however, fuelled by billions of rupees, it has been at the forefront in the cricket-crazy country following the glitzy launch of the Indian Premier League.

“Before the event last year no one really knew how it was going to work,” admitted Dhoni.

“People said the players wouldn’t be taking it very seriously and it’s true that at the start even the players were unsure about it.

“But as the tournament went on, it became clear that everyone was playing at full intensity and it was as serious as any world championship should be.

“For us, of course, it was a memorable tournament and it was a great feeling to lift that trophy.

Mahnedra Singh Dhoni is hoping to lead his team to victory again © Getty Images

“We had gone into it as underdogs – no one really expected us to win it as we had only ever played one Twenty20 International before.

“It was a great tournament and a sweet moment when we won. It is one of the things I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Although it was initially viewed by some as a bit of hit and giggle when it bounded into English cricket’s consciousness in 2003, the 20-over game has evolved massively in the interim and Dhoni expects further change ahead of the tournament in England next summer.

“Twenty20 is developing its own identity,” he said.

“There are different field settings and different strategies and teams are learning more about the opposition.

“What that means is that it’s going to be tough to win it again.

“Teams will be very well prepared – as well prepared as for a World Cup. But on the other side, we will not be short on experience, having played the IPL, so we will have a good chance.”

Plans for the 2009 event will be revealed at the Brit Oval tomorrow, in the latest high-profile launch for cricket’s newest phenomenon.

Dhoni, however, does not believe the chain of 20-over tournaments will damage Test cricket, the sport’s most traditional format.

“I think there is room for all three formats of the game,” Dhoni said. “Test cricket is very different and has its own place.

“I don’t see that changing and I am not worried about the future of Test cricket.

“People still see it as the top of the sport and it is so different from Twenty20 that I think it is safe.

“If there is one format that could suffer it is the 50-over game because it is more like Twenty20.

“It was brought in to make cricket quicker and more exciting but now Twenty20 has brought that to another level.

“It’s over in three hours – it is like a movie for the whole family to enjoy.”