India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan rates West Indian captain Chris Gayle the main threat when the two teams clash in the World Twenty20 Super Eights on Friday.
"It will be good if we can get early wickets against the West Indies," Zaheer said after roaring back from a shoulder injury to take four wickets against Ireland on Wednesday.
"Removing Gayle will be a great advantage for us. I am hopeful because we are clicking as a bowling unit and each bowler understands his role.
"We are chipping in with wickets at the right time."
India meet the West Indies at Lord's on Friday, followed by the England clash at the same venue on Sunday, before ending the Super Eights against South Africa at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
Zaheer discounted suggestions the defending champions faced tougher Super Eight matches as compared to the other group which has Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and Ireland.
"There is no such thing as weak opposition in Twenty20 cricket," he said. "It is such an unpredictable game. Just look at how the Netherlands beat England.
"Any team on any day can be dangerous. Our focus now is only on the West Indies. We are not looking at England or South Africa yet."
The left-arm seamer claimed four for 19, including three wickets in seven balls, to restrict Ireland to 112-8 in a match reduced to 18-overs-a-side due to rain.
Young opener Rohit Sharma then hit an unbeaten 52 off 45 balls as India romped home with 15 balls to spare to end the preliminary league with two successive wins.
Zaheer said he enjoyed the four-wicket boost as he continued his rehabilitation from the shoulder injury.
"I had not played for four or five weeks so it's great to be back in the wickets," he said. "It's a real confidence-booster. I'm very pleased with my performance.
"The shoulder is coming along well. I feel better day by day and I am improving, I feel 100-percent now."
Zaheer had missed most of the Indian Premier League in South Africa and the two practice matches ahead of the World Twenty20 due to the injury in his left shoulder.
"It was a narrow escape for me," he said. "The injury could have been worse. I worked really hard on strengthening my shoulder. The good thing is the injury was not major."
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the team was still to hit peak form despite the eight-wicket win against Ireland after beating Bangladesh by 25 runs.
"Every game you start from scratch," he said. "The bowlers did very well and it's a real positive that they are doing their jobs. But we can do better in the field. It was not our best day.
"I am talking about 85-90 percent efficiency, but we can do it."
With swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury, Dhoni said Zaheer's return to wicket-taking form boosted the champions.
"We thought he would need a few games to get back in the groove. He is bowling in the right areas and he is a very good asset to have."
No comments:
Post a Comment