India-Pakistan WC clash: MS Dhoni speaks on high voltage game, nerves and 5-0 lead

Adelaide, Feb 14: India have an unbeaten 5-0 record over Pakistan in World Cup history but that will count for nothing when the two teams face off in Adelaide tomorrow, according to captain MS Dhoni.

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On the eve of the World Cup 2015 opener against arch rivals, Dhoni opted to focus on the present and executing the plans rather than think of history. (Venues' guide)

Here are excerpts from Dhoni's press conference on Saturday, ahead of the big match against Pakistan

On the confidence of the team making it 6-0 over Pakistan in World Cup (Day 2 schedule)

MS Dhoni: We have to try our best, and that's what it's all about. It's not really about stats. As far as the preparation in the dressing room is concerned, it looks just fantastic, and all to the fact that when we play Pakistan there's definitely more intensity on the field, and with a lot of fans being around, I think it will be a perfect scenario for everyone to raise their level of performance.

On whether it will be an even contest

Dhoni: Well, I don't know whether it will be an even contest or not because it's very difficult to predict, but as far as India is concerned, we don't have any injuries in the squad. Yes, Ishant is the only one who's missing, so that's still a big positive because it has been a long summer for us over here, so that's a positive sign, and the players have been here for quite some time, so they know the condition well, and at the same time they've got quite a few games in the Tri‑Series, so it's looking good.

On whether 5-0 advantage matters for tomorrow's game

Dhoni: No, the only thing that matters is you have to answer a lot of questions regarding that. Apart from that, it doesn't really matter frankly speaking, the reason being we are talking about a span of 20 years maybe or even more. The format has changed, the players have changed. The way the game is approached, that has completely changed. It's just something - it's nice to talk about. More than that, I don't think it really has any impact on the game.

On whether this game will set the tempo for entire tournament

Dhoni: I think it's not a bad one, the reason being we have played the Tri‑Series and the warm‑up games, and starting with Pakistan, as you said, it will be a high voltage game. With so many fans coming from India, it will be a houseful. It's definitely something - it's one of those occasions where the spectators really love it. It's one of the most prized games when it comes to the ODI format. All in all I think it's a perfect scenario to start, and the guys, as I've said, they've got enough experience in the conditions, so I think it will be a good one.

On whether players, who are facing Pakistan for first time in World Cup, are nervous

Dhoni: What's brilliant about this team is you don't need to calm nerves. They've got a fair amount of experience, all of them. They have been playing ODI cricket for quite some time. They are also part of the IPL squad, which means they are quite used to playing in front of 40,000, 50,000 people, and also the big games like the quarters, semis, and all of that, and they have played different tournaments. They have played Asia Cup and all of that. I feel there's nothing that's really needed from outside, and most of them are experienced when it comes to handling tense situations.

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