A series against Pakistan is the ultimate test for any Indian skipper, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he was under no extra pressure as captain and the team also focused on the series, beginning here on Monday.
"I have played a lot of matches against Pakistan. I have captained against them in two matches in the Twenty20 World Cup. There is not much of a difference captaining against them from any other teams," Dhoni said on Sunday.
The skipper said they were treating the series against Pakistan as any other one. "Most of the recent articles says the series is bigger than the Ashes. But It’s just another series for us. It does not matter whether you are playing against Australia, Kenya or Pakistan . You have to go in there and give your 100 per cent," he said. Dhoni replied in just one sentence on the Indian team's preparation for the forthcoming limited over series. "We are up for it."
Dhoni also said it was hard to fill in for players like Rahul Dravid.
'You  see, talent-wise it is hard to fill in the place of players like Rahul, Sachin, Sourav and Kumble. But at the same time, it is an opportunity for youngsters to prove themselves. India-Pak match is always considered a big match; always considered the toughest to play, especially if you are new at the international level. It's a challenge for them. They need to prove themselves," he elaborated.
Dhoni refused to look into the number of openers – as many as five – in the side as a negative. "Not really. All batsmen adapt swiftly. All the openers in the team have batted in the middle order at some time or the other – whether it is Sehwag, Sourav, Sachin, Uthappa or me."
The wicketkeeper batsman said shorter boundaries can affect the spinners a bit. "This is one of the grounds where we could have extended the boundary ropes. Quite a small ground, especially if we see both sides have spinners who will have a big impact on the game. Definitely, they will suffer a bit if it turns out to be a flat wicket. 60-65 yard outfield is a worrying factor for bowlers."