Mahendra Singh Dhoni aims to emulate West Indies, Australia's World Cup glory
Dubai: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said that India would aim to be the only third side in history to clinch back-to-back Cricket World Cup titles by winning the tournament which will be held in Australia-New Zealand next year.
Dhoni said his side was shaping up nicely and confident of emulating Australia and the West Indies to win back-to-back Cricket World Cups.
"It is amazing to think that it is just one year until we defend our ICC Cricket World Cup title as that means it is almost three years since we won the trophy on that amazing night in Mumbai. The memories of that night and of the whole tournament are as fresh and as special as ever," said Dhoni, in an ICC release to mark one year to go to the start of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
"We know that defending the ICC Cricket World Cup is something that only the West Indies and Australia have done over the whole history of the tournament but with the quality we have in and around our squad we believe we can become the third side to do it," he said.
The tournament will be staged in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29, with India to open its title defence against arch rival and 1992 champion Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15.
Dhoni, who hit the winning runs in Mumbai when India won the title in front of a full-house in 2011, added that his side had players who were capable of handling the pressure of a global event, and that the victory in ICC Champions Trophy in the UK last year proved that his team has the firepower and ability to excel outside its own territory.
"We have a group of players who are experienced at playing in high-pressure situations and we have already shown we are capable of dealing with the dual pressures of being world champions and coping in overseas conditions at a major ICC event by winning the ICC Champions Trophy in the UK last year," Dhoni added.
While India won its first title in 1983 under Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd led the West Indies to titles in 1975 and 1979, and Steve Waugh (1999) and Ricky Ponting (2003 and 2007) were at the helm when Australia won the tournament in England, South Africa and the West Indies.
Dhoni, who occupies sixth position in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen, said the New Zealand tour has allowed his side to experience the conditions it will face during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which, in turn, has helped his side to prepare for next year's tournament.
"Although we did not win our latest ODI series in New Zealand, it has given us valuable experience of what we can expect in 12 months' time.
"The next year is now all about getting our plans in place and remaining confident and if we can do that we will be in a good place by the time the action starts next February. I remember the joy that winning Cricket World Cup brought to all Indians all over the world in 2011 and we want to do the same again by playing to the best of our ability in 2015," he said.
Australia captain Michael Clarke, who was just 11 years old when Australia last hosted the Cricket World Cup in 1992, said he was thrilled the event was returning to his country.
"The ICC Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of one-day cricket and we're thrilled that it's going to be held in our own backyard," said Clarke, whose side will lock horns with England on the opening day of the tournament in Melbourne.
"The best players in world will be coming to Australia and New Zealand and we're looking forward to playing good entertaining cricket. I encourage as many Australians and New Zealanders as possible to get behind this amazing event," Clarke added.
Brendon McCullum, whose men will go head to head with Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Christchurch, hoped his country will get behind it as New Zealand eyes its maiden World Cup title.
"We're travelling well at the moment with a number of young guys having stepped up against the West Indies and India. The team has had tremendous support over the summer, so we're keen to continue our current form into the World Cup and get the whole country behind us," said McCullum.
Next: Gavaskar expects massive Indian crowd at next year's World Cup
Gavaskar expects massive Indian crowd at next year's World Cup
Wellington: Legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar is expecting the Indian fans to turn up in huge numbers for next year's Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand to watch the defending champions who will be seeking for their third title in the premier 50-over tournament.
India are placed in Pool B alongside South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and UAE. Pool A comprises of England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland.
With exactly one year to go before the first ball is bowled in Christchurch in the World Cup 2015, Gavaskar said Indian fans would be looking to relive the joy of their team's historic win on April 2, 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Gavaskar said there were so many people on the streets of Mumbai after Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co's famous win that it was just difficult to move freely. "It was absolutely massive. That's the passion that Indians have for this game. I'm pretty certain that the Indians will be coming here to enjoy their cricket and partake of the magnificent hospitality," Gavaskar told reporters here.
The price of tickets have been kept as low as possible to allow the fans watch the action at the venues itself. New Zealand great Richard Hadlee said the Black Caps needed to overcome their mental barrier if they were to win the World Cup.
New Zealand reached the semi-finals of the tournament six times but never went on to win the trophy.
"If we can replicate the form that we're in now in 12 months time then we're in with a shot. But we do have that mental barrier don't we? Six previous semi-finals but we've not gone beyond that. If we can make the semi-final and dig deep then it's 50-50 on the day when you're in the final, so we can live in hope," he said.
