India's limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes he has a very balanced 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the all-important WT20.
While the Asia Cup, for the first time being held in the T20 format, will be held in Bangladesh in February-March, India will host the World T20 in March-April.
"Overall it looks like a very balanced squad and in any eventuality we have replacements (in the squad). The good thing is that we started playing T20s in Australia and continuing from there, we now have a platform and our game has reached an auto-pilot mode. We have to keep injuries away and there could be 1-2 changes depending on the wicket," Dhoni said here on Friday on eve of launching lifestyle brand ‘SEVEN’.
"Our bowling in T20s has always remained strong. The players have a lot of experience. We are looking very good as of now. We have shown the consistency whether you talk about death bowling or the first six overs, whether in India or abroad; overall it is looking like a very balanced bowling attack."
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who launched a lifestyle brand SEVEN, further said that he has a wide variety of options to select from the 15-member outfit but more importantly, he has back-ups available.
"If you see the 15 players selected, if something happens we have a replacement for everything. If I have to play with a spinning all-rounder instead of a seaming all-rounder, we have that option too. We have a provision for an extra opener as well. The overall balance of the team in any situation remains the same and if someone gets ill or injured for 1-2 matches the replacement is there," said the dashing Dhoni.
"If one player is available for all the matches and is not injured, we will see the wicket and decide (the playing XI). We have got to remain fit and in form which will be very good for the team."
India will play Pakistan at least twice for sure during the next 2-3 months in the upcoming tournaments. But Dhoni said this Pakistani team will be different from the one they faced previously.
"It is obvious that the Pakistan side will be a bit different as some of the players they have are new. So it is a different Pakistan team. We will play them in the Asia Cup and World Twenty20, we will have to abide the rules and regulations and also the spirit of the game," said captain cool.
"When we talk about aggressive cricket, I don't think the Indian cricket team is behind any other team in the world. We don't negotiate on that point. But we know what are the guidelines that need to be followed."
No retirement in sight for msd
Captain cool also on Friday made it clear that he is not retiring from international cricket anytime soon.
Dhoni, who guided India to two world titles inaugural WT20 in 2007 and WC in 2011 overseeing the country's rise to the pinnacle of Test ranking, is seeking to regain the trophy he won nine years ago in South Africa.
"After the Asia Cup T20 and WT20 there is the IPl. And then the team is mostly playing Test cricket and about five to six ODIs, which will be over quickly," Dhoni signed off.