-as India arrives in C/bean
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Fresh from being dethroned as ICC World Twenty20 champions, India arrived Thursday for their four-match One Day International (ODI) series against West Indies starting next week.
India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told reporters on arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport that he anticipates a tight series, which starts next week Friday at Sabina Park.
I think it’s going to be a competitive series and we are looking forward to it,” Dhoni said.
he Indians were ousted from the current World Twenty20 after losing all their Super Eight matches – to West Indies, England and South Africa – and angered their home fans by their meek surrender of the title.
Dhoni said they are putting the Twenty20 letdown behind them and focusing on the upcoming matches in Jamaica and St Lucia.
“In a Twenty20, once you lose the initiative at the start it’s very difficult to come back … so that’s one big difference when it comes to T20 and 50-over cricket,” he explained.
India’s team is not at full strength with injuries — of varying levels – ruling out key players Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina.
Coach Gary Kirsten concedes that they are weakened by the quartet’s absence but believes the series will provide an opportunity for other players to make a name for themselves.
“You’re always going to miss them because they are great players, but it’s a great opportunity for a tour of this nature for young players to show what they’re made of,” Kirsten said.
The 36-year-old Tendulkar is on the mend from a finger injury he picked up during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Khan, recovering from a shoulder injury, was also given more time to rest.
Sehwag and Raina are also hurt and were not considered for selection.
The matches are slated for Jamaica on June 26 and 28 and in St Lucia on July 3 and 5.
INDIA SQUAD – Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Yusuf Pathan, Murali Vijay, Subramaniam Badrinath, Rudra Pratap Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Abhishek Nayar, Ashish Nehra, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik.
