India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Monday that the selection approach adopted by the country was aimed at nurturing a winning team for the 2011 World Cup in Asia.
'If I am the captain (at the World Cup), I would love to have 14 cricketers who have played at least 80 to 100 internationals,' Dhoni
'If I am the captain (at the World Cup), I would love to have 14 cricketers who have played at least 80 to 100 internationals,' Dhoni
'That's very important to play guys now because we don't play too many internationals in the coming year and there are only a couple of years until the 2011 World Cup. It's important (to gain experience) because there will be pressure on the guys; if they have those 80 to 100 internationals under their belts it will be slightly more comfortable,' he explained, a day ahead of India's match against Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank Triangular One-day Series at the Gabba in Brisbane.
While Dhoni was confident the youngsters would gain rich experience in Australia, he admitted: 'It can backfire with new guys coming in and playing against a team like Australia. But it will depend on the individual, how they take responsibility, whether they take it as a challenge.
'It depends on the individual more than the team. You can motivate them but it is up to them to show courage and go out there and perform.'
