Virender Sehwag feels Dhoni & Co are favourites to lift WT20 title

Virender Sehwag

New Delhi: India have a perfect mix of world class performers and that makes them hot favourites at the upcoming World Twenty20, former batsman Virender Sehwag said yesterday.

Virender Sehwag

Sehwag, who bid adieu to international cricket recently, said the hosts have a strong batting line up and a lethal attack.

"We have batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra and spin attack of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin. I think, India are the favourites for the competition," Sehwag said.

Sehwag was all praise for India's opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

"They have become a good pair and if they stay there for first seven or eight overs, nobody can stop India," Sehwag, who himself was an aggressive opener, said.

Sehwag also picked comeback pacer Nehra for special praise, saying that he has been giving much needed early breakthroughs to the team. "Nehra has been doing better, especially taking wickets in early overs. I think, he will play well, like he did it along with Zaheer Khan in the 2011 World Cup," he said.

Sehwag though warned India of tough competition from Australia, South Africa, West Indies, England and Pakistan. "At present Pakistan has the best pace attack, especially Mohammad Amir, who bowled well," he said, adding India skipper MS Dhoni will have the advantage of exploiting the home conditions.