Run-a-ball: Dhoni's new mantra for the World Cup

RANCHI: Bowlers of rival teams in the coming World Cup have to put in extra effort to bowl dot balls against ICC's number two batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who on Thursday said he would strive hard to take at least one run every ball he faced in the quadrennial showpiece.

"I will try to play well and my effort would be to take a run a ball," Dhoni said at the airport here on his return home in reply to a query in the run up to the World Cup
scheduled in the Caribbean islands.

Though the pitches in the West Indies were tough, the stylish cricketer said his effort would be to take a run-a-ball.

Evading a query on Australia's chances at the World Cup following the recent drubbing by New Zealand and the tri-series final defeat to England, the wicketkeeper-batsman
warned not to take any team lightly.

"No team should be taken lightly in the World Cup," said Dhoni whose confidence is sky-high after he scored 223 runs in five innings in the recently concluded twin one-day series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

He played thrice against West Indies and twice against Sri Lanka, scoring two fifties and remaining not out on three occasions, propelling him to the second position overtaking Australian captain Ricky Ponting in the latest ICC rankings.