Trent Bridge (Nottingham): At the World Twenty20 in England, India are not just attempting to defend their title but also tackle friction at the top between captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and vice-captain Virendra Sehwag.
While Sehwag will head home on Wednesday, Dhoni is now taking on the media, though not for the first time.
Dhoni has been combative and impatient in previous press conferences as well choosing a quite novel way just a few days back to take on media reports that spoke of a rift between him and Sehwag.
Before India's first match of the World T20, Dhoni led the entire team to the press conference and read out a statement.
"As we prepare for the T20 World Cup we are a superbly unified team. Team spirit has been as good as it has ever been with each individual supporting each other both on and off the field. Recent reports in the Indian media of a rift between myself and Sehwag amount to nothing but false and irresponsible media," said Dhoni.
The Indian captain took on the media again on Tuesday, particularly those sections of the press who claimed there was a rift between him and Sehwag.
He not only declined to answer any question related to the fitness of players and Sehwag's injury but also asked the media personnel to name the person who they claimed was leaking team news.
"Whatever is related to fitness, you will get from the BCCI," said Dhoni putting the ball in BCCI's court.
Dhoni kept on reiterating his point that all was well with the team and that the Board of Control fro Cricket in India would be issuing a statement about the status of players' injuries.
However, a reporter was persistent. "Who is leaking the stories to the media? Tell me," he asked Dhoni.
A visibly agitated Dhoni gave a curt reply.
"Well, I am not. That's for sure. All the guys are here, if you are blaming me, why don't one of you stand up and say I have leaked? You're accusing me. You just blamed me of leaking news," Dhoni replied
Team manager V Chamundeswarnath stepped in and answered.
"Dhoni cannot answer how much pain Sehwag is having while batting," Chamundeswarnath said.
In the space of a few moments, Dhoni had caused an unprecedented flutter that even surprised veteran journalists, who have spent years covering Indian cricket and its captains.
What has happened is quite unusual. The team felt like making a point and they obviously felt this is the best way to do it. So obviously you can agree or disagree with their behaviour but i suppose they are entitled to react in a particular manner.
"What has happened is quite unusual. The team felt like making a point and they obviously felt this is the best way to do it. So obviously you can agree or disagree with their behaviour but i suppose they are entitled to react in a particular manner," senior sports journalist L P Sahi said.
But where does the truth lie?
There are murmurs that Dhoni was upset with Sehwag about the injury although it couldn't be independently confirmed.
The team has chosen to stay aloof from the media in England and seems to have the backing of former cricketing greats.
"I do believe it will have a positive impact because I think the team as a whole will be determined to show that all is hunky-dory and that they have to go out and win," former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar hoped
Without Sehwag, India is a weaker team. But the question on everyone's lips now is if the men who carry the burden of Indian cricket are at loggerheads at least they aren't answering that one clearly.
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