Dhoni says no rift in the Indian cricket team

It was an unusual media briefing here at which Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni paraded the entire team to drive home the fact that there was no rift between him and his deputy Virender Sehwag ahead of the World Twenty20 clash against Bangladesh here Friday. Dhoni, refusing to take any questions, dismissed media reports of an alleged rift between him and Sehwag.

“This message is for the people of India, and for Indian cricket fans worldwide - and comes from the whole team. As we prepare for the T20 World Cup, we are a superbly unified team,” Dhoni read out from a hand written note.

“The team spirit is as good as it has been. There is no rift in the team. Media reports of rift between me and Virender Sehwag are completely false, baseless and irresponsible. Our fans and supporters can take confidence from the wonderful unity that continues to exist in this team,” he added.

A media report said Friday that both the players had a ugly face-off over Sehwag’s fitness. Sehwag is likely to miss Saturday opener due to a shoulder injury.

Kumble said - Experience plays a part in T20 too

Twenty20 is definitely a format for youngsters but for them to shine, the backing and guidance of senior pros is imperative, says Anil Kumble, who led underdogs Bangalore to the IPL summit clash.

Retired players like Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchirst, Shane Warne, and Kumble himself were at par with the youngsters, doing extremely well in IPL season-II.

Hayden grabbed the Orange Cap for scoring highest runs, Gilchirst won the Player of the Tournament award and Kumble ended second highest wicket-taker with 21 victims.

Kumble believes that presence of senior players only help the youngsters perform better.

"It is a young man's game - yeah it is - you need to be fit, you need to be really athletic but you have six or seven guys who are like that - I think the senior and the experiences guys will take the pressure and use their skills to ensure that we handle the situation pretty well.

"In that sense if you look back the retired guys and also the senior professionals have done really well in the tournament," he said.

Kumble is enjoying playing the shortest format of the game and has already started thinking about the Champions League, slated for October.

"Definitely, you will see me three months from now in the Champions League. I was thinking that I will start training in January -February for the next IPL but I will have to keep myself fit for October," he said.

Watch World T20 Starting June 2009

Watch Twenty20 T20 World Cup is here...starting this June- Check out all important matches of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, SOuth Africa, West Indies, Netherland and Ireland.

The 2009 ICC World Twenty20 is a Twenty20 cricket tournament scheduled to take place in England in June 2009. It will be the second ICC World Twenty20 tournament, following the inaugural event in South Africa in September 2007. As before, the tournament will have 12 teams compete - the Test-playing nations and three qualifiers. 3fzv986eis