| Player: | Yuvraj Singh, Z Khan, MS Dhoni |
| Event: | ICC World Twenty20 2009 |
DateLine: 29th May 2009
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was candid enough to admit that the Indian Premier Leahgue has left the Indian team tired ahead of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, but added that fatigue is a part of Indian cricket and the players were used to it.
"When you play so many matches you do get tired, after all it's a human body. There was no time to rest for the players. But fatigue is a part of Indian cricket. Till now Indian players have done well with it," Dhoni told reporters before the teams scheduled departure for England from Mumbai.
However, he also stressed that the IPL provided good practice before the World Cup.
Speaking on the merits of the team, Dhoni said that the presence of so many all-rounders was a definite advantage for his team.
"We have Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh who have taken hat-tricks in the IPL. We also have Suresh Raina. Yusuf Pathan is there too," Dhoni added.
However, Dhoni also said the IPL had helped prepare for the tournament in England. "It [IPL] helped us a lot in terms of exposure and skills. So it was more beneficial for us.
"We have someone like Ravindra Jadeja with limited international experience but with high talent. He has played against some top fast bowlers and spinners in the IPL and has learned to handle pressure."
About the lack of form of openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, the India captain said that it did not worry him. "Both openers are very talented, he added.
