'Captain has to stay calm on the pitch'

Appreciated for his on-field composure, India's ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni says he endures pressure and stays calm to instill confidence in the bowlers.

Appreciated by former cricketers for his on-field composure during nail-biting matches, India's ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he endures pressure and stays calm to instill confidence in the bowlers.

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"Well, tension is there for every one. It is tough at the international level. I don't think it is possible without pressure at international level cricket," Dhoni told newsmen in Ranchi.

A captain, he said, needed to stay calm to send out positive signals to his bowlers, who bowl under constant pressure.
"One has to stay calm on the pitch, particularly to relieve the bowlers. If a bowler finds his captain in tension, then it will have a negative impact on him," Dhoni said.

Dhoni was responding to a query on how he felt about praises being heaped on him by former captains from India and Australia like Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Kim Hughes, Ajit Wadekar and Dilip Vengsarkar.

While Waugh said a team was always a reflection of its captain, Gilchrist gave full marks to Dhoni and Kim Hugues praised India saying "the sleeping giant (India) has awoke".