Mahendra Singh Dhoni says India is a top contender for World T20

Skipper MS Dhoni

Visakhapatnam: The emphatic triumph over Sri Lanka giving a perfect start to their World T20 build-up, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his side will be one of the top contenders at the showpiece even though some top batsmen are yet to get enough time in the middle.

Skipper MS Dhoni (right) and team owner Sanjiv Goenka unveil the Rising Pune Supergiants jersey for IPL-9 in New Delhi yesterday. Dhoni said it will be different to play for another team after spending eight years with Chennai Super Kings, who are banned by the Indian cricket board for two years. Pic/PTI

Due to India's deep batting, not all the batsmen have got enough runs and overs under their belt in the last six T20 matches.

Dhoni himself and comeback-man Yuvraj Singh have hardly spent time in the middle both in the series against Australia and Sri Lanka.

"Everybody has not got the chance to bat. But you will keep facing this problem because our batting line-up is deep.

Executing big shots
"We will have to try and give bating to players, who have not batted so far but people who are batting close to 6, 7 or 8, they will have to play big shots because that is going to be certainly be very important for us," Dhoni said after series-clinching nine-wicket win against Sri Lanka here on Sunday.

"It's not how many runs you have scored at that time but may be if you are facing only 3-4 balls and you can get 10-15 runs, that will be a real benefit," he said.

Dhoni said familiar conditions at home is also a comforting factor for them for the World Twenty20 starting March 8.

"We are always a top contender when it comes to the shorter format. Also the World Cup being held in India, the spinners will come into action and that gives us added benefit and also the exposure of playing IPL over here.

"Out of eight seasons, we have played seven here and all of that will count," he said.