India's new One-Day International team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni says he hopes to keep smiling during his term in the hot seat.
Dhoni, who was named captain of the ODI team for the seven-match series against Australia, beginning September 29, and Pakistan later, said he never imagined playing for the country, leave alone captaining the side, and is thrilled to hear the news of his appointment.
"I am very happy. I never expected to play for India. So I didn't expect captaincy either. Captainship was not an issue for me. I just wanted to play cricket and enjoy it," said Dhoni.
Asked if it is world cricket's most high-pressure job, he replied, "I think it is. It seriously is, I am telling you. Hopefully, I will have the smile. I don't know how I will react to it, though. If the team does well, nobody bothers you. The main thing, the motto, should be to do well in every match," he added.
Dhoni, who is captaining the team in the Twenty20 World Cup, said he hardly had time to reflect on the enormity of the job at hand.
"I just heard the news in the afternoon and haven't had the time to reflect on that since I am preparing for the Twenty20 games against England and South Africa. That is crucial for us," he said, when asked what his approach will be, especially with so many seniors in side.
"There is a gap of three or four days after that and that is when I will think about it. I think I said something similar when I was coming from England. I had just two or three days before the Twenty20 World Cup. It is the same over here. We have to finish this tournament before I think of the ODIs," Dhoni said.
He said the coming tours against Pakistan and Australia are very important since the team is playing at home after a long time.
"I have been captain of the Twenty20 side and now am captain of the ODI team for 12 matches. The coming series against Australia and Pakistan are also important. It is critical for the team. It has been a long tour of England and here and it will be nice to play some games at home. It is vital for us to perform well in those matches.
Asked about the players being in and out of the side, Dhoni said, "All the guys are talented and it is just that some of them are not in the best of their form. It is matter of being in form or not.
"Those who are left out are not really at the peak of their form. So they earn some points by playing domestic matches and can get back to the Indian team. It is our national team and whoever is in the best form has to play for the team.
