Not thinking about rankings: Dhoni

 
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Winning the series is important and if we do that, it will reflect in the ratings,” the Indian captain said on Tuesday. “We are not thinking about the rankings because we don’t want to play under pressure. You want to play your natural game, the whole team wants to play according to the game plan. We know that if we keep playing well and keep winning, the ratings will take care of themselves.”

The quicker bowlers are expected to get more assistance here than the previous two venues, but Dhoni all but ruled out the inclusion of Ishant Sharma instead of left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

“When the game goes on for five days, you have to see how the game will change, whether the wicket will assist the spinners or not,” he offered.

“Past record suggests that usually, the spinners come into action as the match goes on. Especially in India, on the fourth and fifth days, the game changes very quickly. At the same time, if you play three seamers and get the top four batsmen out very quickly, you will have the upper hand. So you have to weigh everything. It’s the kind of soil that, as the match progresses, gives assistance to the spinners with turn and a bit of bounce.”

For the record, Zaheer Khan is the first Indian fast bowler to take 100 wickets in winning Tests. Zaheer has been a part of 28 Tests that India have won so far.

S Sreesanth, the man of the match in Kanpur, has a minor injury in his right little finger. “It’s just a niggle, you will see him play,” said Dhoni, who then spoke of the steep slope confronting bowlers from both ends as they run up to the bowing crease. “It’s a proper slope, almost like a step you have to take before you bowl. It will be tough because it is quite inclined. When you come in off a long run-up, you have to put in a bit more effort.”