Friendly dressing room behind Team India’ s success: Dhoni



Sports Desk: For those wondering what has caused Team India to shrug the IPL spot-fixing muck and claim the Champions Trophy with clinical ease, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has spilled the beans. 

Speaking to mediapersons at Kingston, West Indies, where the Champions Trophy winners will participate in a tri-nation event, Dhoni attributed a conducive dressing room for team’s success.

"What we have done really well is we have enjoyed each others' success and that has really contributed to the side winning most of the games," the 31-year old said.

"If I'm happier than the person who has actually scored a century or a fifty, you understand that's the kind of atmosphere that you want, because at the end of the day, what we play is a team sport," he added.

Dhoni conceded here is fierce competition for places in the Indian team but it has never translated into personal rivalries.

"It's important that the guys sitting out just to wait for their chance, not think that if this guy does badly I will get a chance. They can use that period to improve themselves and whenever the chance, whatever the reason may be, fitness or form, they try to earn that place in the side," he said.

"We have been able to create that kind of atmosphere and it's really reflected in the performances that we have given,” the captain added. 

The series, that starts Friday, has Sri Lanka as the other team, besides hosts West Indies. 

Each team plays each other twice before the final on July 11 in Trinidad.

Speaking on Team India’s approach to the series, Dhoni, at the launch of the Celkon Mobile Cup, said, “The demands remain the same. The expectation when it comes to the Indian cricket team has always been the same.”

"If it's moving, it only moves in one direction - it goes up. It doesn't matter whether we have won the last series or lost or what has happened on the field," he explained.

India begin their tri-series campaign against hosts West at the Sabina Park on Sunday.