Many voices prevail, but Dhoni is never stumped

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni stumping Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal in their World Twenty20 Group 2 cricket match in Bangalore on Wednesday. He described his team's one-run win as being able to "manage chaos", but hosts India must beat Australi
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni stumping Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal in their World Twenty20 Group 2 cricket match in Bangalore on Wednesday. He described his team's one-run win as being able to "manage chaos", but hosts India must beat Australia on Sunday in order to reach the semi-finals. PHOTO: REUTERS

BANGALORE • Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said India's one-run win over Bangladesh to keep their World Twenty20 dream alive was all about holding their nerve and being able to "manage chaos".

The Indian cricket team survived a roller-coaster match on Wednesday that saw Bangladesh come tantalisingly close to chasing down India's total of 146 for seven, only to lose three wickets in the last three balls.

India scraped home when wicket-keeper Dhoni ran out Mustafizur Rahman off the last ball of the match, after earlier making two critical stumpings.

With two wins and one loss in Group 2, the win bolsters India's chances of reaching the semi-finals, but they must now defeat Australia on Sunday to secure a place.

Dhoni paid credit to his side for keeping cool and recovering from mistakes in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium, after showing similar resolve last Saturday in a win over Pakistan.

Dhoni, known as "Captain Cool" and the brains behind India's on- field strategy, said it was important to listen to all voices in those situations and then come to your own conclusions quickly. "In a situation like this, it's literally chaos. What you are trying to do is you're trying to manage chaos," he said.

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who conceded just 20 runs and claimed two wickets to be Man of the Match, admitted that he was totally spent after the nerve-racking win but warned that the hosts had to up their game if they are to realise their dreams of becoming World T20 champions.

"It was a big roller-coaster game, but I think for a team to go all the way in such a game is very, very important," he said. "We have never worried so much."

A stumbling Australia will also have to raise their game when they take on Pakistan in a must-win Group 2 match in Mohali today.

The Australians, the reigning one-day world champions, narrowly beat Bangladesh in their previous outing and have appeared tentative at best, going down to New Zealand in their opening match.

For Pakistan, another defeat will finish off their hopes of advancing in the tournament, a huge disappointment for a side who were eyeing a repeat of their 2009 title-winning feat.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

WORLD T20
Super 10, Gp 2: Pakistan v Australia (5.20pm)
Gp 1: South Africa v West Indies (9.50pm)
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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 25, 2016, with the headline Many voices prevail, but Dhoni is never stumped. Subscribe