Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in Mumbai, on Tuesday

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday effectively gagged Mahendra Singh Dhoni on the spot-fixing scandal at the media conference before the team’s departure for the Champions Trophy.

The announcement was made at the start of the media conference by Dr R.N. Baba, a Chennai man, who is part of the support staff.

When Dhoni was asked on the scandal that rocked the IPL, media manager Dr Baba stopped the scribes from probing the captain, asking them to stick to questions pertaining to the Champions Trophy.

Dhoni was asked how difficult it would be for him and the team to instill faith in the cricket loving public and whether everything would be ‘fair’ during Champions Trophy. All Dhoni could manage was a chuckle as Dr Baba sprung into action, stopping the journalists from asking questions.

The following are excerpts

India’s chances

…We are the joint winners of the Champions Trophy and have not won the trophy… So it’s a good opportunity… It’s most likely to be the last Champions Trophy, so it will be our last opportunity to win the title.

The composition of the side

It looks like a balanced side, there are a few challenges like the new ODI rules and we will be playing outside the subcontinent for the first time under the new rules… The good thing is we have two practice matches leading up to the tournament… Champions Trophy is always a tough tournament because all the top teams take part in it. And every match is very difficult, but overall it is looking good and we have enough time to prepare.

Any fitness concerns

As far as the fitness is concerned we have not received any official reports about any player being unfit so that is a good sign.

If a few places are up for grabs

It’s a good opportunity for all the youngsters who are part of the side. There are a few places that are up for grabs. I think it will depend on the individuals and how they perform. What the conditions are exactly will also be important… if it’s too cold fast bowlers will have an edge over spinners to start off so overall it is a good platform for the youngsters to prove themselves and get good exposure… When it comes to international cricket, the good things is that almost all of them have spent a fair amount of time when it comes to playing at this level, so let’s see how it goes. As you rightly said it is an ideal opportunity for the young players.

The mental state of the side

As far as the Champions Trophy is considered, everything is looking good and there is nothing to worry and don’t think there is anything that will bother them. We will also have enough time in hand to set up before the first game, there is also enough time interval, so enough time to adjust.

Going back to England after a disastrous 2011 tour

We didn’t play well in the Test series, the last time we went to England. If you look at the ODI results, it looks as if we have done decently well. Rain was a big factor, we lost all the tosses. It didn’t even reach the stage where it could have been decided by the D/L system. Losing the toss meant that the spinners had to literally bowl with the wet ball and not possible for them to use their skills. The performance of the ODI squad was good over there, if you don’t see just the results… Fielding will be something that will be very important in the shorter format, if you can get that one brilliant catch or a run-out. It can change the course of a game. The set-up is looking really nice.

If this is India’s best pace attack

That is a difficult one to answer because we have played in the past when the fast bowlers have been in really good nick and at the same time we had a good amount of experience. When it comes to this fast bowling line-up, you can see there are people who can exploit the conditions… you have someone like Bhuvneshwar Kumar who can really swing the ball and Umesh Yadav has got the pace and has been part of the side for sometime now. We missed him last year as he was not fit and now he is fit. The department is looking good. It is just that we will have to adjust to the new rules of five fielders being inside and the length they need to bowl. How quickly they adapt to the wickets, which areas to bowl… We have got the right mix, we have some who can bowl really fast and a couple who can swing the ball and use it in their favour.

Whether opening pair is inexperienced

Our two openers had done well at the Test level recently. I know it is a different challenge in the ODIs, you have to accelerate but at the same time it is important that we have a good start on which we can capitalise on… as Duncan (Fletcher) rightly said this is an opportunity for the youngsters. Shikhar has been very consistent, Vijay has been very consistent and they have been rewarded for that. Hoping, they capitalise and do well for us so that middle-order is not under pressure and express themselves.

Whether spot-fixing controversy will have an impact on the players going into the Champions Trophy

No comments...

If he knows Vindoo Dara Singh personally

(Smiles, media manager says next question please...)

Whether he can guarantee to the Indian public that during the Champions Trophy there won’t be any mischief on the field

(No answer)

India vs Pakistan match in Champions Trophy and the rivalry

If you see both teams are balanced, Pakistan’s bowling line-up is a very good. Ajmal is a mystery bowler so it will be a good competition and our batsman will have to figure out how to score runs against them… At the same time our fast bowlers can exploit the conditions, so I am hoping it will be a very good game. Whenever you play them, anywhere, it is a slightly tensed game. And I am hoping we will be on the winning side.

On the team generally struggling in tournaments after the IPL

That’s a difficult question. The reason being that you have the stats to back that up. We are hoping that with the kind of fitness level that is going around right now, each and every member is looking fit. The reason being that all of them have played good cricket in the IPL or before the IPL... So most of them are in very good touch.

[Coach Duncan Fletcher, who was present with Dhoni at the press conference, felt that the inclusion of three spinners in the squad was justified. “As MS mentioned earlier it is generally going to be seamer friendly but you never know… Like Cardiff for example, it is known there to be a turning wicket, very slow and not very different to what you might get in India. You got to be prepared to play two spinners. Always remember if one is injured, you need a back-up. We have balanced side. We have a cover for every position.”]