INDIA captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni insists his own form is not a concern heading into the World Cup semi-final against Pakistan tomorrow.
Dhoni, also India’s wicketkeeper, has a well-deserved reputation as a hard-hitting middle-order batsman.
But his returns with the bat at this World Cup amount to just 125 runs from seven innings at 31.25 with a best of 34.
In India’s quarter-final win over Australia the captain did have an opportunity to play a key innings but was out for seven.
It fell to left-handers Yuvraj Singh (57 not out) and Suresh Raina (34 not out) to see the home side to a five-wicket success in Ahmedabad.
“It’s a cricketing aspect,” said Dhoni, the face of numerous billboard and television World Cup advertising campaigns.
However, he insisted he was not being distracted by outside influences.
“I have been batting quite well, some of the situations have not been good for really playing flamboyant cricket. Like against Bangladesh, I could not get to bat. Also some shots went straight to fielders.
“What is important, especially in India is when you are batting at five, six or seven, if the top order scores well, it does not give much opportunity to the lower order.
“The last game (against Australia) was ideal where I could have got good runs, which were also needed then, but I could not get them.”
The 29-year-old added he was proud to captain India, saying: “It’s an honour to lead the side. If you take a pressure job, you will find yourself in a pressure cooker.”
India Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani are both set to be among a capacity crowd tomorrow.
“That will be a distraction if looking forward to that, that’s the role I have been handed,” Dhoni explained.
“Somebody has to lose this game, irrespective of political talking.
“At the end one team will have lost and one will be going into the final. That’s part and parcel of sport, every sport.”
