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India likely to go in with five bowlers against Aus
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said the team will go in with five bowlers in its World Twenty20 Super Eight match against Australia but it will be one of the toughest decisions of his career to choose between Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh.
"We would most likely go in with five bowlers but I still don't know what will be the combination. It will be a fresh wicket and we have to take into consideration how it will be before the start of the match," Dhoni said on Thursday.
Playing five bowlers means dropping either Sehwag or Yuvraj and Dhoni knows it only too well that it will be a tough call.
"It is one of the toughest decisions I have taken so far. We will have to see what fits the combinations. Just wait and watch. Ultimately the decision we take has to be a good one that benefits the team."
'The bowlers will certainly need some variety up their sleeves'
Asked how his bowlers will counter the devastating opening duo of Shane Watson and David Warner, Dhoni replied, "They are the best in the world and know how to play aggressive cricket.
"We have to bowl in right areas and the bowlers will certainly need some variety up their sleeves."
The skipper was, however, dismissive about the oft repeated 'Chin Music' theory.
"This is what we have always spoken about for the last five years. I would rather focus on my team and let them say whatever they want.
"If you look at our team, we have players who have had decent amount of exposure having played quite a few ODIs and Tests. And when one talks about short balls, it's a problem as much for us as for any other team. But one needs to work the way around."
Dhoni was of the opinion that top-four in the batting line-up need to fire if a team had to be successful in this format in the sub-continent.'I have had a very understanding team'
"If you look at the sub-continental tracks, the ball comes onto bat for the first eight overs. Then from 8th-12th, the game slows down as wickets fall.
"That's why it is important for the top four batsmen of any side to score as many runs as possible till the time the ball comes onto the bat. We have good openers who are fabulous runners between the wickets."
Having recently completed five years of captaincy, the inevitable question of how to counter the external pressure was raised and the skipper gave a deadpan reply.
"For me, there are no mobile phones, newspapers or surfing news channels. It's up to the individuals as to how they deal with pressure but it is important to ignore external factors or try to omit them. It is better if an individual channelises his energy in the right areas like thinking on cricketing aspects," he said.
"I have had a very understanding team with some of the players like Sehwag, Zaheer, Yuvraj and Harbhajan having a lot of experience of playing international cricket.
"Also the younger members of side have also played for a minimum for four or five years. We have seniors who are willing to guide juniors and the juniors have shown good improvement," he added.