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This is the team I wanted: Dhoni

Special Correspondent

Brisbane: India captain M.S. Dhoni said if the side was seeking to build a strong force for the 2011 World Cup, it needed to groom cricketers who had played sizable matches by then.

He said, “I think this is the team that I wanted.”

The Indian captain admitted that that the plan can boomerang. “But it can also succeed and these cricketers need the right opportunity to perform,” he said.

Courage and character

Dhoni added the boys had to show courage and character in the tough conditions down under. “They should not succumb to the pressure,” he said.

On Manoj Tiwary picked ahead of Suresh Raina, Dhoni said, “I go by instinct. That he arrived only yesterday and did not have enough practice does not matter. Cricket at the top level is tough and the good ones can adapt quickly.”

Dhoni believed India had a chance in the game. “It was evenly poised. The momentum was with us when the rain came. But the target was small and a sizable knock could have turned the momentum Australia’s way.”

On Harbhajan Singh being booed by the Aussie spectators, he said, ““I don’t really care. Harbhajan feels that it actually is helping him relax.”

Floater

Talking about his batting slot, Dhoni said, “I see my position in the side as that of a floater. You could also see me at number three.”

Brett Lee felt the rain deprived just about everybody. “It wasn’t good for us, not good for the Indian team and the fans.”

He did concede India had a chance when showers ended the match. “Sreesanth was bowling well. If we had lost a couple of more wickets, it could have tilted the game in India’s favour.”

The Aussie spoke about the value of patience as the leader of the pack. “Patience is important. It has got me wickets. The way the ball is coming out of hand, I am trying to do the same thing and don’t change much.”

On his clever use of the short ball, he said, “It can also get you wickets. A fast bowler bowler must use it.”

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