NOTTINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni took the unusual step yesterday of leading his team into a news conference where he publicly denied reports of a rift between himself and Virender Sehwag.
Dhoni said reports claiming he had clashed with his vice-captain were “nothing but false and irresponsible media”.
Coach Gary Kirsten told reporters the story was false.
“I was blown away when I heard about this, because it is something that just does not exist,” Kirsten said.
“I think it is a huge positive to say `we stand together as a team’. “We wanted to send a message out to say this team is really unified, for the Indian people. We are very close and we have been for a long time now.”
The defending champions open their campaign against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in Nottingham today. Bangladesh defeated India in the group stages of the 2007 50 overs World Cup.
“There is a level of expectation, because the team have won before,” Kirsten added. “The team are fully aware of that responsibility and understand the pressures.
“The T20 format of the game does bring other teams into it — one good or bad over can change it around. You can lose games very quickly, so it does throw it open.”
Kirsten said Sehwag had torn a shoulder muscle in the Indian Premier League and was uncertain how many matches he would play.
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said his tsam were looking forward to putting pressure on the Indians.
“Everyone knows we’re dangerous at any time,” Siddons told reporters.
