5 reasons why India can win the 2016 World T20

A lot of pressure is on the Indian side for the World T20Five editions and five different winners - this has been the journey World T20 so far. After the introduction of the ODI World Cup in 1975, West Indies managed to win the tournament twice in the first two editions, but even after five editions, none of the teams have achieved the feat of winning the tournament (World T20) twice.India, Pakistan, England, West Indies and Sri Lanka have tasted success in the tournament with none of the teams managing to replicate the success again. The 2016 edition of the World T20 is around the corner and the tournament is set to take place in India. The groups and the fixtures were out last week.The hosts will look to add their second World T20 crown in their cabinet after winning the first one in the inaugural edition in 2007. Since then, India reached the finals only once and finished as runners-up in the 2014 Edition in Bangladesh.This time around, the Men in Blue will look to go a step further as they would look to become the first team to win the World T20 at home for the first time, a feat they achieved in the 2011 ODI World Cup. Let us take a look at why India should be considered as favourites for the tournament:

#1 Home Advantage

It won't be an easy task for the visiting teams to beat India at their own backyard.

2016 World T20 is taking place in India and the home advantage is the first thing that comes to our mind. But given the nature of the T20s, home advantage hardly matters in winning matches and adding to that, the majority of the players around the World must be familiar with the conditions in India, thanks to the Indian Premier League.

Having said this, it won't be an easy task for the visiting teams to beat India at their own backyard. India might possess a dubious record away from home, but when it comes to matches in India, the men in blue are second to none in terms of performances.

This is evident by the fact that the Indian side was the first team to win a World Cup at home. It won't be a surprise if MS Dhoni and his men go on to become the first side to win the World T20 twice.

#2 A strong bowling attack

Spinners and turning tracks.

With the World T20 set to take place in India, the wickets tend to assist the spinners and facing the Indian spinners on the turning tracks at home is a nightmare for the opposition batsmen.

This is evident by the way the South African side that had some world class batsmen in their ranks struggled against the Indian spinners throughout their recently concluded tour. It won't be a surprise if skipper MS Dhoni picks as many as four spinners (R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra/Axar Patel and Harbhajan Singh) in the Playing XI.

The team management will be eager to hear that pacer Mohammad Shami is fit to take part in the World T20. The pacer has been out of action since the conclusion of 2015 World Cup and might just recover in time for the World T20. In spite of having no match practice, Shami might get the nod ahead of others as he can be trusted when compared to the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma.

Adding to that, the selectors will also have Irfan Pathan in the fray for the World T20 after his heroics in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.

#3 Depth in batting

The best top-order in the world?

The in-form Indian batting line-up is crucial for the team’s fortunes at the World T20. While it can be said that Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni are certainties, India will have to take a call regarding the other opener and a batsman who could go after the bowling attack right from the word go.

Assuming Ajinkya Rahane gets the nod as an opener ahead of Shikhar Dhawan in the XI, the top four of the batting line-up has four names that one could find in the top 6 of the IPL batting charts every season. Rohit Sharma, opening the batting along with Ajinkya Rahane followed by Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina can be a lethal top order for the hosts. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni coming in at number 5 and 6 will make the middle order strong.

Yuvraj Singh, the hero of India’s 2007 World T20 triumph has made a comeback to the T20 side and will look to erase the memories from the 2014 World T20 finals and guide the team to victory. The kind of form MS Dhoni is in, it will be safe to have a batsman coming in number 7 ahead of Ravindra Jadeja at 8.

Baroda’s Hardik Pandya can be the right candidate for the spot as he has the ability to finish off the innings in T20 formats. Having Pandya in the team will also give India an extra bowling option.

With Pandya as the finisher and a fit-again Shami in the bowling department, India can go in with three frontline spinners in the playing XI.

#4 Adapting to the format

Ten T20Is before the World T20

When compared to other teams, India will adapt to the T20 format easily as they are set to play at least 10 Twenty20 Internationals ahead of the tournament.

India will play 3 matches in Australia, 3 against Sri Lanka at home and the 2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh, which will be played in the T20 format in the run-up to the tournament. Apart from these, India's presence in group A alongside Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and probably Bangladesh could go in India's favour.

Termed as the Group of Death, group A has four teams that are capable of winning the title. Finishing the group as winners will see the hosts having a relatively easier opponent in the last four and then it's just a matter of 1 match to taste success.

Not to forget India’s track records in the ICC tournaments since the 2007 World Cup has been stunning and this includes their unbeaten record in the group stages of the World T20. The men in blue will look to give their 100% and maintain the record in the 2016 edition as well.

#5 MS Dhoni getting a winning farewell

Dhoni’s last international tournament. Wait..Wait.. Is it so?

Last, but not the least, the entire team will be motivated to win the 2016 WorldT20 for their skipper MS Dhoni as the extravaganza could be his last International tournament.

Dhoni made it clear during the 2015 ICC World Cup that he will make a decision to retire from international cricket after the 2016 World T20 if he thinks it is the right time to do so.

With his batting on the decline and a lot of time available for the 2019 World Cup, this is the right time for him to call it a day as it gives the team time to gel well as 2019 World Cup approaches.

It would be a fitting farewell for India's most successful captain if he bows out with a win at Eden Gardens in the finals of the tournament.