Shikhar Dhawan is confident the pressure will not get to India as they aim to avoid a shock 2-1 series defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka today.
The hosts face Angelo Mathews and Co. in Visakhapatnam with the contest locked at 1-1 — the tourists having shocked India with a seven-wicket win in Dharamsala in the opener of the three-match series.
Thanks to Rohit Sharma’s brilliant 208 not out the hosts hit back in Mohali to set up today’s do-or-die clash. And even though defeat to Sri Lanka would be a big shock — they have won the past three ODI series against the Islanders 5-0, 5-0 and 4-1 — Dhawan claimed India are not feeling the strain ahead of the first over.
“Of course there is pressure whenever you play a final (decider), there is pressure but we are used to it and there is going to be a big crowd,” the left-handed opener said.
“We are a strong side and we believe in our ability and our skill, we are going to go out and play it like any other game, just do the basics right.”
At the same time, Dhawan expects the Sri Lankans to be better prepared after their loss in Mohali though the home team will be ready for the challenge.
“See of course, when you attack the opposition and the players we are, the calibre we have got once we are in. Once I am in, I can demolish any side because that is my strength.”
The opener went on to say that India will draw a lot of strength from their win in the last match — when having been thrashed by Sri Lanka the pressure was very much on the hosts to avoid a humbling defeat.
“The way we came back in the next game, in Mohali we felt that it was a damp wicket at the start but it wasn’t. Still the ball wasn’t coming that nicely when we were batting at the start,” Dhawan said.
“We took the pressure nicely and changed the game after ten overs. As I said, it’s always a learning curve, we are learning and we are going to get better from here.”
The left-hander was full of praise for his opening partner Rohit, who has led from the front in his first full series as captain.
“He has only been captain for two matches but I’ve known Rohit for a long time and I know what his character is like,” he said.
“He is a very chilled out captain and tells us to keep the basics right, we all know our roles, we just have to give our best and hats off to him for the way he performed in the last game. Very happy about it.”
On what he thought of the captain’s unbeaten 208, Dhawan said: “Rohit and I have played for a long time. He is one of the best opening batsman I have played with.”