Nagpur: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on the eve of the first Twenty20 game against Sri Lanka that the batsmen in the team don’t need to adjust much to the shorter version of the game but it’s the bowlers who will need to be proactive in switching to T20 from test cricket.

“It’s (switch) difficult. But if you see, we had been scoring at 5 an over in the last Test we played (at Mumbai). I don’t think it would be too difficult for some of the batsmen, especially Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir,” Dhoni said ahead of the first Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka. “They actually bat in the same way. Just that they are a bit overaggressive in T20 format, you can say.”

“Though the bowlers need to roll their arm for only four overs, an enormous effort is involved to do so in the T20 format as the batsmen would go after them from ball one, especially on Indian pitches,” he said. “Most of our players are positive players, looking for strokes and runs. I don’t think you need to change your game too much. Of course a few others need to change according to the requirements. Considering we are playing in India, it would be a bit different for the bowlers, as the batsmen would go after them from the very first ball. It looks to be a small game, just four overs, but the amount of effort that’s needed, is what it is all about.”

The wicket-keeper batsman said that the team is confident after the 2-0 test series win and they will be looking to win both the Twenty20 games. “We will try our best, it’s a very different format. We have to be up to the mark in everything. It’s important to be right on target. We will try and win both the T20 games (against Lanka),” he said.

The first match of the two match T20 series will be played at Nagpur and Dhoni said that the Indian team would like to maintain their 100 percent record at this venue, having won the test against Australia last year and an ODI against Sri Lanka a couple of months ago here. “We hope to have a 100 per cent strike rate at Nagpur. It will be good for Nagpur and India,” he quipped.

Asked about the pitch at Nagpur, Dhoni said that it looks like a belter for batting but he also had word of caution for his batsmen, saying that most teams self-destruct in trying to be too aggressive when it’s a good batting wicket.

“Looks like a good track. It’s a late evening start. We may see dew come into effect. But by the time dew comes in the game may be over. It won’t be that big a factor. Overall it will be good for batting, but in T20 it’s very tough to predict. All of a sudden you look to go aggressive and lose quite a few wickets at quick intervals and you are not able to get big runs”, he pointed out.

The Indian skipper also said it’s a good opportunity for the two new faces in the Indian team, Ashok Dinda of Bengal and R Ashwin of Tamil Nadu, to get a closer look at what international cricket is all about and share the dressing room with the senior players.

“It’s a different format. Youngsters would get exposure and also get to know what international cricket is all about. You can spot talent and slowly groom them so that they are ready for 50-over game and Test cricket at the same time”, Dhoni said. “It’s very good for them, a good platform and opportunity if they get a chance. If they don’t, they can still have a close look at what international cricket is all about.”

When quizzed about the new fielding consultant of the Indian team, Michael Young, who has been brought in for the two T20s and the ODIs against the Lankans, Dhoni said that he would like to wait and watch what impact it has on the team members. “We should wait and watch what kind of an impact he will make. Wherever he had gone he has done well,” he said.

He also said there were benefits in bunching players into two or three in fielding sessions. “It’s always better to have fielding sessions in short groups to have an eye on the techniques of the players so that they don’t injure themselves and at the same time are in a good position to implement run outs or take a good catch,” he said.

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