"I will answer in Hindi. I hope that's okay with you guys!" Mahendra Singh Dhoni dead-panned at the start of his first media interaction on Australian patch at the MCG on Wednesday. The Australian journalists were stunned for an uncertain second before they realised that the joke was on them.

Dhoni is the most visible representative of the vibrant new India. No air of apology about him, no backward step in his dictionary. "When you step on the cricket field, it is all about winning. No game can ever be just a practice game," he said, ahead of the three-day fixture against Victoria.

An exploratory little salvo came from an Aussie scribe, who was keen to know if Shaun Tait with his unusual slinging action had got the Indians thinking. "After a while you get used to it," Dhoni replied, referring solely to the angle of Tait's release.

"We have played guys with different actions in the past -- people like Lasith Malinga and Sohail Tanvir. Tait is obviously an express fast bowler, and we have seen videos of his bowling, as we have of the other bowlers too.

But ultimately, it is what you do on the field that matters, it's how and how quickly you adapt that is important."

Coming out of three Tests against Pakistan on slow, low tracks to playing in Australia — surely, it will be a different experience? "Oh yes, there will be lots of bounce!" he responded. "Apart from good, aggressive cricket.

We will get to know after three months whether the tracks here suit my batting or not! But yes, the conditions will be different. But I have heard it said that if you settle down on these pitches, then you are on for a big score, especially if you like to play your strokes."

The MCG will have a drop-in pitch for next Wednesday's Boxing Day Test. Drop-in pitches traditionally have less bounce and pace, so did he believe India were better off playing first at Melbourne? "A low, slow Australian track will still compare favourably with the fastest pitch in India," he laughed. "Playing Australia anywhere in the world is the biggest challenge. They are the chart-leaders, they are the world champions and they have been consistent in both forms of the game for long periods now."

Dhoni has never coveted the captaincy, and if the man who asked him if he was disappointed at not being named the Test skipper was expecting to stir a hornet's nest, he was in for big-time disappointment. "It's not about being the captain," the Test vice-captain replied. "It's all about the passion and pleasure of playing for your country. The captaincy doesn't make a difference.

Rich in experience

"There are many former Test skippers in the team (four including Virender Sehwag). If you take it positively, then whenever you need help, you look around and there are 3-4 players to help you out. As captain, you will make the final call, but you won't be under too much pressure because there is so much experience, there are so many inputs."