India losing a bigger headline than India winning: MS Dhoni

India picked their sixth Asia Cup title since the tournament’s inception in the 1980s. MS Dhoni, who has won the coveted pan-Asia Cup for the second time in his tenure as Indian skipper pointed out the importance of securing a win in the final against Bangladesh. The Indians overwhelmed the Bangladeshi’s by 8 wickets to pick up a deserved win.

“India losing a final is a bigger headline than India winning a final,” Dhoni said after sealing an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in Mirpur with a six over midwicket. “It’s like putting in a lot at stake: if you win then they say ‘nothing really’; if you lose to Bangladesh, say people ‘oh, you lost to Bangladesh?

“You’re supposed to win. It’s like a game where a lot is at stake but when you win, you actually don’t take anything forward,” Dhoni added.

Speaking about the changes in Bangladeshi cricket since 2004, Dhoni has said that the squad, the facilities and the fan following are unbelievable.

“Things have changed. It’s not like the 2004 Bangladesh team. They have a fantastic squad right now. They have improved a lot, and that’s what is showing in their performance on the field. So it was an important one to win.

“As far as staying in the present is concerned, it always helps. If you start thinking about what happened when the last time we were here… of course, you feel hurt, but what’s important is to forget all of that and concentrate on the present. You can’t do much about the past, you can only take the learnings from the past and that’s what we did today,” Dhoni added.

The Indians side has been presented with a latest selection problem following a positive fitness test for Mohammad Shami. However, Dhoni has said that the latter’s inclusion will be difficult as the momentum gained by Jasprit Bumrah and Ashish Nehra is incredible.

“For Shami to replace [someone], it would be Ashish. Ashish is the only slot, but to replace Ashish would be very tough. The reason being he has done very well for us, he has moved the ball around. But Shami will have to prove his fitness in the warm-up games. If he does, he will stay ahead with the team.”