Dhoni reckons that the 'best method' to beat Australia in the cricket tri-series finals was to 'put them under pressure' and his young team was capable of turning the tables on them.
SYDNEY: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni reckons that the 'best method' to beat Australia in the cricket tri-series finals was to 'put them under pressure' and his young team was capable of turning the tables on the world champions.
"Australia is a side which likes to keep other teams under pressure. So the best method is to keep them under pressure. Fortunately, they have been under pressure in this series and it will be good if we can keep it that way," Dhoni said on the eve of the crucial match.
Dhoni said toss would be important in tomorrow's first finals to be played under lights.
"Toss is important as teams would like to bat under the sun. Under the lights, it does a bit before it becomes a flat track again," he said.
Dhoni kept his cards close to his chest regarding team composition and generally talked in riddles, except while defending his youngsters.
The big question on everyone's lips was the final eleven given his penchant for five bowlers and reluctance to play Virender Sehwag in all the games.
"Sachin will open that's for sure. It's about his partner. Actually it's quite confusing whether to play five or four bowlers; to go into the game with 3-2 or 4-1 or 4 plus part-timers," he said.
Dhoni did not want to comment if he has evolved as captain and was flippant when asked if there was something about the Sydney water, as rival captain Ricky Ponting had said the other day, which was causing the bad blood to exist between the two teams.
"May be they should get a few samples (of the water) to the lab and get it tested. It doesn't make a difference to us anyway as we've been drinking mineral water," was the cryptic reply of Dhoni beneath a typically benign smile playing on his face.
The Indian skipper was asked if Matthew Hayden was rested in Friday's game, instead of being provided with practice before the finals, as a mark of punishment for his unprovoked remarks against Harbhajan Singh the other day.
"May be (he was given break) because he wanted to be in the boxing ring, he wanted to box," said Dhoni barely able to control his giggle as he offered his reply.
As for the possibility that his side could create history, Dhoni was again at his flippant best.
"I don't know about creating or not (history) but you become a part of history, whether for good or bad, once you play."
Dhoni has the rein of India's young brigade for sometime now but he did not want to comment if his captaincy has had a learning curve in the last few months.
"Too many things have happened for me to state in a short time," said Dhoni, without pausing and reflecting on the question.
Ironically for all his unprecedented success, Tendulkar hasn't managed a hundred in 20 outings against Australia all these years; nor one against other teams in 38 matches in all he has played on Australian soil.
Numbers also have piled up for India not with bat, ball or in field alone. Indians also have been booked the most by match referees this summer. Four have been reported and three have been found guilty. Dhoni came close to being hauled up for using illegal wicketkeeping gloves before being let off with a reprimand alone.
The bad blood between the two teams has ensured that not a seat at the SCG would be vacant on Sunday. Match referee Jeff Crowe, and the two umpires, would have to really strain hard to stop things getting out of hands in the middle.
Hayden is an automatic starter and his duel with the Indian bowlers, and fielders, would carry a spark of its own. Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds too should be subject to special attention in the field from the Indians, as it would be the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth from the Australians.
The conditions at the SCG are likely to help the batsmen though the wicket was pretty damp to start with this afternoon. Hot blazing sun for the rest of the day and tomorrow is predicted which would allow the batsmen to come on to their own.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan, S. Sreesanth, Virender Sehwag, Munaf Patel, Piyush Chawla.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (Capt), Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Mike Hussey, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken, Mitchell Johnson, Brad Haddin, Brad Hogg.
Match starts 8.45 am IST.
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