Pressure is part and parcel of Indian cricket and we will cope with it: Dhoni

AFTER A SHOCK defeat in their opening game against the Kiwis, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that his side needs to win the coming games with a huge margin in order to improve their chances to qualify for the semi-finals.

“I have always said not to take anything for granted. It becomes really difficult. We can realise how we are supposed to bat. Wickets are different everywhere. You have to assess, adapt and how quickly you read the wicket will be important. However, if the margin of defeat was smaller then it would have been better for us. It’s important that we win our coming matches but what is also important is how we win those matches and by what margin."

The skipper knows the remaining games will be a knock-out. Another defeat and the campaign for Team India is likely to end.

“Once you lose the first game all the other matches are do-or-die situations because you can’t afford to lose anymore. Even if lose another match by mistake then we are out of the tournament. Hopefully, the upcoming matches will bring the best out of us,” Dhoni said.

However, the 34-year-old said that his team is used to playing under pressure and the team has it in them to come back from behind.

“We have been in such situations before and there is no match that we have played when there is no pressure. Pressure is part and parcel of Indian cricket and we will cope with it,” he added.

India now needs to win their remaining three league games against Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia by a good margin to increase their chances of qualifying for the semis.