We are not getting involved in all this hype, says Dhoni

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni asked his teammates not to get distracted by the media hype surrounding the team’s high-voltage clash against Pakistan in the World Cup here Wednesday.

He told the players just to focus on the match and not think about anything beyond the game.

“Well, we know the kind of hype media India-Pakistan matches generate. We are not getting involved in all this. We need to know what we are expected to do and focus on that,” Dhoni said at the pre-match media conference here.

“All this is part of cricket and we have to accept it. But the key is not to get involved. We will have the biggest distinguished guests
(referring to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani) to see the match, we have to be at our best,” Dhoni said.

Dhoni said the media hype won’t affect his team.

“It is not really affecting us. We all know it is a big tournament and we have prepared a lot. Our preparations have been the same like what we have done in the past few days.”

Dhoni said he was not worried about his batting form.

Asked if pressure of captaincy was taking a toll on his batting, Dhoni responded: “It is only a cricketing aspect, nothing to do with form. I have been batting quite well. Sometimes the situations are not great to play flamboyant cricket. In the Bangladesh match, such a situation was there but I didn’t get to bat.”

“If you are batting at No 5, 6, or 7, you don’t get to bat much if the top order scores. I think the last game (against Australia) was ideal
but it went straight to a fielder. It does not go your way always. Form has not been a worry,” he added.

Dhoni said that all the players are fit.

Asked if this was his biggest match as a captain, Dhoni said: “In a cricketer’s life there will be many instances, this is no doubt an
important match. After some time you forget. I have forgotten how we were feeling before the semi-final and final in 2007. Three years down the line, every game is different.”

Dhoni also praised the Pakistan bowling.

“They have a good bowling attack. Their seamers and spinners are doing a good job, the part-timers are also doing well. In sub-continental conditions, these players play a role. All-rounders like Abdul Razzak and (Shahid) Afridi give them the liberty to play extra bowlers,” he said.

Full of praise for Afridi, Dhoni said: “He has been bowling really well and has been the pick of their bowlers…But irrespective of the bowler, we have to treat the ball on merit and respect the good deliveries.”