New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that the introduction of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in the cricket World Cup won’t make all teams happy.
The debatable UDRS will make its debut in the World Cup from the quarterfinal stages and Dhoni said the Indian team has done its homework on the system.
‘We have done our homework on the UDRS system. Some decisions will help you while some will go against you. As a captain you can’t help it. But I can say UDRS won’t make all teams happy in the World Cup,’ said Dhoni during a promotional event here Wednesday.
Dhoni admitted that some of the players are carrying few niggles and the lengthy gaps between the matches will help them select the best eleven.
‘Getting a perfect schedule is very difficult. In fact long gaps between matches is not a big issue for us and it may work in our favour. I am happy with this format because some of the players in our team are carrying niggles and it will give them some time to recover well for the next match,’ said Dhoni.
The India captain was also happy with the fact that the Super Eight or Super Six stage has made way for the quarterfinal format for the first time in World Cup since 1996.
‘I am happy with the format. Even if you lose a few games, you still have a chance to make the quarterfinal. In fact, this format is good for players like Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan who can change the match on their own in the group stage. I think the team that plays consistently well in the group stage will make the knock-out stages,’ said Dhoni.
‘We believe in each others’ talent and we have a very good team. The environment in the dressing room is very good. And if we perform to our potential we have a very good chance of winning (the World Cup),’ Dhoni added.
Dhoni went on to add that he has tweaked the meaning of pressure to added responsibility.
‘Due to the World Cup, expectations are high so we have decided to change the meaning of pressure to added responsibility. But pressure is beyond our control. However, we have players, who are well aware of the pressure and have been playing at the top level for the last 10-12 years,’ he said.
Dhoni said lifting the 50-overs World Cup at home after winning the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 would be ideal for the team.
‘The Twenty20 World Cup has been one of the most memorable moments in my career. Fifty overs World Cup victory would be the ideal thing. But I don’t want to make any predictions. I can only assure all that we will give our best. We will take one game at a time. So at present I am just thinking about the Bangladesh match (Feb 19 in Dhaka),’ he said.
Asked if he was happy with the team, Dhoni said: ‘I am really happy with the squad. I know I am the lone wicket-keeper but it is not a worrying factor. Since the tournament is happening in India, if anything major happens to me we can always bring in the reserve wicket-keeper. But having one wicket-keeper gives us the liberty of having more variation in the side.’
Dhoni also said that the team would like to win the World Cup for batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who probably will be playing his last World cup.
‘We all love him (Tendulkar). Most probably it is his last World Cup although we all want him to play many more World Cups. But practically speaking it seems impossible. So, the World Cup trophy can be the biggest gift from the team to him,’ he said.
The captain was disappointed after Kolkata’s Eden Gardens was removed as the venue of India’s second game against England, Feb 27.
‘Playing in the Eden Gardens before one lakh people is always special. We will miss the passionate Kolkata crowd but it is out of our control,’ he said.
