London, June 10: The day-to-day happenings in the BCCI since the IPL spot-fixing scandal broke out has not bothered the Indian team, according to captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who said that his players were only focussed on the ongoing Champions Trophy.
“As players, we can only control the things we are able to,” Dhoni told mediapersons ahead of his team's second group league encounter against the West Indies at the Oval on Tuesday.
“We don't get to read newspapers and there are no channels. So we are not disturbed here. We can focus on cricket and do our own team exercises,” he said.
For the first time in four days, the Indians trained outdoors. It was an overcast and nippy morning here today and the team practised on three side wickets, very close to the main square.
Dhoni said that the overcast conditions are tempting enough to play four seamers, but “we will not go that way because the result can go against us and then I will be blamed.”
The skipper reckoned that the Oval wicket will assist spin and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will have a role to play for sure. Between Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina, the spinners bowled 21 overs among themselves in the first match against South Africa in Cardiff.
India won by 26 runs with pacer Umesh Yadav taking 4 for 75.
“This Oval wicket is a used one. There is a bit of grass and there will be a bit of bounce too. The fast bowlers will get some assist but since this is an old wicket, there will be spin as well,” Dhoni said.
Dhoni singled out Chris Gayle as the dangerman in the West Indian camp.
“We have to take him out before he takes us out. The Gayle factor will always be there. He is a dangerous individual and we will have to get him early,” he said.
Stating the match against the West Indies will be “interesting”, the Indian skipper said the team that adapts best to the conditions will prevail.
“You need some basic planning but you need to adapt along the way,” Dhoni added.
Dhoni indicated that Yadav will play a key role in Tuesday's game.
“But he has to think better and learn a lot. With exposure he will get better and that's what international cricket is all about,” the skipper said.
