Nagpur, March 11: Captain MS Dhoni believes that India have got good exposure having played their previous four games in various conditions, a fact that is likely to serve the side well for the rest of the tournament. The India captain also appreciated Harbhajan Singh’s role in keeping the opposition under check even when not taking wickets.
Excerpts from a media interaction ahead of the India v South Africa encounter on March 12.
On the 2011 ICC World Cup this far
We’ve played quite a few games. Each and every game was important. Bangladesh was the most important [to] start off [with], especially if you remember the 2007 World Cup. I think each and every game has its own importance. This [the game against South Africa] is another big one for us.
On the advantage of playing the next two games against better opponents and then heading into the quarter-finals
I think [it’s an advantage] because we’ve already qualified for the next leg of the tournament. Playing two big games against good sides, we want to get a bit of momentum on our side, though you have to play well in each and every game and it’s a fresh start every day. But still, it’s good, because slowly the intensity will go up and you have to be on your best right from now. It’s just that we have the advantage of having two extra games on our side.
On handling pressure given the mounting expectation
I think what’s important is to think about the process and not about the expectation. We all know what is expected out of us but what’s important is how we can perform to the potential we have got. And definitely, not thinking about the expectations is one way of doing it. Thinking about the process and how you’re prepared for the games is the other way you can really achieve your targets.
On not having lost a game but still having difficulties in pulling off victories
We had a tied game, we had two good run chases at the same time. But what’s important is that in the last four games we have batted first and we have chased scores. We have played on good wickets and at the same time we have played on slower tracks. This means we have got a fair amount of exposure as to what we may get in the coming games depending upon the venue. I can only say, the first four games have been really good for us when it comes to getting into the groove and being ready for the next leg of the tournament.
On his brilliant ODI record at Jamtha (Dhoni averages 115.50 from two innings and has two centuries at this venue)
You know records are one thing, but I always say you have to be at your best on that particular day. So, irrespective of whether I have scored zero runs or 50 runs in the last game or at the same venue, what is important is that I, or anyone else, shapes up for that particular game.
On the part-time Indian spinners having a good tournament:
Yes, so far it has been really good. Yuvraj [Singh] has done a really good job. Yusuf [Pathan] is more of, I won’t really call him a part-timer, but I won’t put pressure on him by calling him our lead spinner. But whatever opportunity he has got, he has done well. Which means if some bowler has an off day, you have someone who can come in and chip in with five or six overs or maybe more depending upon the conditions. So it gives you the liberty of saying ok, even if somebody has a bad day you have the talent in the side where you can go all the way with the 50 overs and still not give too many runs to the opposition.
On shaping the team strategy keeping in mind that the Jamtha wicket favours pacers
Well, it will be a thought because we have seen this is among the better tracks in India. Better in the sense, there is a bit more bounce for the fast bowlers. What we have seen is that there is no extraordinary swing or seam movement for the seamers, maybe with the new ball there is something extra. But as the game progresses we have seen it has got fair amount of turn for the spinners also. So we will have a look at the wicket, [check] whether it is too dry or not and accordingly we will decide.
On the team fitness
Every player is available for selection - that is a big bonus for us.
On Piyush Chawla being picked over R Ashwin in the game against the Netherlands
What you need to assess is who needs the game more. I think Piyush Chawla has been applauded a lot by the media and other people (he says, sarcastically). I felt he [Chawla] needed to play that game because he needed to get his confidence back a bit. He is still a youngster, still only 22 or 23 years of age, which means that he will be feeling the pressure. He has not played in the subcontinent, in fact he has been a part of the side after a long time. It’s more of a mental battle. At the end of the day, I need each and every member of the squad to be available throughout the tournament, which means you have to be mentally at your best also. And I think Piyush earned a lot out of that particular game [against Netherlands].
On Harbhajan Singh being unable to take wickets
I think there is not enough pressure from the batsmen. What we have seen is the more the pressure the batsman puts on Bhajji [Harbhajan Singh], the better he bowls. That’s one of the reasons. And when you are a batsman or a bowler, the one thing that you like is the scorecard to reflect your performance. Often, in India, performance means scoring a 50 or a 100 and taking three wickets or five wickets which at times can be very difficult. But [let us not] forget the role of the bowler who restricts the opposition because if I have two bowlers who are giving 70 runs in 20 overs, I will be quite happy even if they don’t take wickets. Because ultimately the pressure turns on the batsmen to score runs in today’s format.
