Why Yuvraj, Nehra, Dhoni are the perfect trio to win India T20 World Cup

Two names stand out in the Indian squad that is expected to take the stage for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. Three, if you're a brave person, who considers Mahendra Singh Dhoni to be past his best.

MS Dhoni during the selection committee meeting for the T20 world cup. Ashok Nath Dey/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra and Mahendra Singh Dhoni make up the senior brigade of the Indian cricket team, but the way you look at it, are also its most valuable assets. Their inclusion in the team has not been solely on the basis of form, but also for what they add to the team, their contributions in the past, their reputation, and the fact that this is a world cup that the team is going to take part in.

Well, that stands true for Yuvraj and Nehra at the very least, with MS Dhoni picking himself by default as captain.

Look back at the 2011 world cup in India. Remember the contributions of Yuvraj - player of the tournament, suffering from a dormant form of cancer which had not even been detected at that stage. Remember his fighting innings in the quarter final against Australia, when despite his body giving up, despite vomiting on the pitch, Yuvraj Singh continued playing.

Photo: AFP / MUNIR UZ ZAMAN

Look back at Ashish Nehra's performance against Pakistan in the semi final of the 2011 World Cup, which India went on to win. Defending just a total of 261 in the second innings, India needed a bowler who could efficiently stem the flow of runs. Step forward Ashish Nehra, who ended the match with figures of 10 overs, 0 maidens, 33 runs and 2 wickets - the best economy rate of an Indian bowler on that day.

It is performances like these on the basis of which Yuvraj and Nehra have been picked. And it is not merely empty reputation - after all, reputation is only built on the back of a significantly good skill-set. It would only take the hardest cynic to argue that Yuvraj and Nehra don't have a reputation, or a skill-set anymore.

Ashish Nehra bowling in the nets. Photo: AFP/Prakash Singh

And what can we say about Mahendra Singh Dhoni? He is of the major factors behind the success of the Indian team ever since he took over the reigns as captain in 2007. He led India to its first ever triumph in a world cup since 1983 and the T20 world cup in South Africa.

It is now the very same tournament with which he hopes to leave a lasting legacy behind. With murmurs that Dhoni's career might be coming to an end, winning another world cup on home turf would be the perfect swansong to an impressive career which has spanned over 12 years.

Photo: AFP/DIBYANGSHU SARKAR

So why are these the players that could lead India to the World Cup? The answer is simple, just one word - experience. The experience of having roughed it out in tough situations and come out on top, the experience of having the lengthy careers that they have had, and the experience of playing in and winning a world cup.

The next few months can well be the last few months where Indian cricket fans get to witness the old war horses Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in action. Let's enjoy their contributions while we still can.