Nihal Koshie

Johannesburg: As much as India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni wants to believe that Monday’s final is just another game, he himself knows that it won’t be easy to keep aside the pressures and wellset rivalries between the two teams when he walks out at the Wanderers.

“India versus Pakistan game is always special and if you look at this game it is a World Cup final. However, much you try to make it seem like just another game, it is not possible because an India-Pakistan match is always special.

But it is advisable for both the teams to think less about who they are playing against, because it will be a big game and there will be a lot of pressure on the players.

It would be better though if players can think of it as just another game.”

Dhoni’s motto at the World T20 has been to enjoy the game. He has repeatedly stressed to his players that the team will play to its potential only if they have fun out in the park.

India went in to this tournament with little expectation from the fans and that has helped.

“I guess no one thought that we would reach the final. The Pakistan people had some expectations their team has been playing T20 cricket and it is a popular form of the game. The Pakistan players probably had a better idea as to how to go about the tournament.

For us, it was a very new concept. I think the way my players have responded to the needs of the T20 game, the way they have adopted has been brilliant.”

Dhoni believes the tough games the Indian team has played and won will hold them in good stead.

“We have been playing the tough matches and dealing with a lot of pressure in this tournament, we played against New Zealand and we played against South Africa, a do-or-die match and after that we played against Australia.

We are used to dealing with the pressure. Yes, tomorrow’s game is a big one, but we must treat is as just another match.

It is important to go on the field and give it your 100 per cent. That will be the key of us in this World Cup,” Dhoni said.

So has he dreamt of holding the trophy aloft on Monday.

“Well, I don’t dream too much. So I have not thought of holding the World Cup trophy. Yes, India has never lost to Pakistan in a World Cup game, but there is no point looking back at history. It does not help. There is always a first time when history is created so it is better not to look behind and look ahead. We cannot take history lightly but at the same time we should not dwell into it too much. “

The Indian skipper believes that the increased number of games the two teams have played in the recent past will benefit each other.

“There has always been healthy competition. Over the past few years we have played each other quite a few times so there is less pressure. We have got to know their players better and they have also got to know us better. This has helped us develop strategies against them. I think playing against each other more often than in the past has helped both the teams.”