Captain Virat Kohli says off spinner Ravi Ashwin will be a key to their Twenty20 World Cup hopes.
Camera IconCaptain Virat Kohli says off spinner Ravi Ashwin will be a key to their Twenty20 World Cup hopes. Credit: AP

Kumar, Ashwin to fire India: Kohli

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Captain Virat Kohli believes swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar will prove a handful and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will also boost India's hopes at the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.

Judging by the recent Indian Premier League, swing bowlers are set to struggle to get any movement on the UAE's low and slow pitches at the World Cup starting on Sunday.

While Kumar has built his reputation around his ability to swing the ball, Kohli said the 31-year-old had other tricks up his sleeve.

"His economy rate still continues to be top notch, something that he's always been known for, and his experience comes to the fore under pressure," Kohli said on Saturday.

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"I'm sure with the new ball he'll definitely get some kind of assistance, and whatever little is there on offer, Bhuvi knows how to make the maximum use out of that.

"His experience is going to be priceless."

Ashwin is also back in the T20 fold after a two-year gap and Kohli said it was a just reward for the bowler, who had reinvented himself in the game's shortest format.

"One thing that Ashwin has really improved on is bowling with a lot of courage in white ball cricket," Kohli said.

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"If you see the IPL in the last couple of years, he's bowled the difficult overs, he's bowled against the top players in the IPL, the likes of Polly (Kieron Pollard) and other power-hitters."

Two-time champions West Indies will begin their title defence with an October 23 match against reigning 50-overs world champions England.

Skipper Pollard said that while six-hitting prowess was their strength, the West Indies are no one-trick pony.

"We have a lot of powerful guys in our line-up, but..we also have guys who are able to manoeuvre the strike, run between the wickets," he said.

"We're looking forward to trying to play complete games of cricket. Then the results take care of itself."