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We will not be under any extra pressure: Dhoni

Birmingham, 14 June: Even though the result would only be of academic interest, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today termed…

Birmingham, 14 June: Even though the result would only be of academic interest, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today termed their face-off with arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy an “important” game but said that his team would not be under any added pressure.
“I think it’s an important match. It doesn’t matter which side you are playing, because all international sides are good enough; so there is no real point in taking any added pressure,” Dhoni said on the eve of the match. 
While admitting all India-Pakistan matches were big games, Dhoni said it would be suicidal to take extra pressure. “All international sides are good and packed with good fast bowlers. Pakistan also have good spinners in (Saeed) Ajmal and (Mohammed) Hafeez. We will not change our approach,” he said.
Dhoni also commended India’s batting muscle ahead of the eagerly-awaited match, saying they “don’t need 100-plus opening stands” every time.
“Well, I think we are a side that relies quite a bit on a good start.  That doesn’t really mean that we always need a hundred-plus opening partnership,” he said.
Misbah&’s take
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq reckons tomorrow’s Champions Trophy contest against India here will be “one last chance to prove ourselves” in front of
the world. pti

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