Mumbai, Dec 1 (IANS) Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Tuesday said the players are not taking additional pressure by thinking about the top Test spot that they will earn if they beat Sri Lanka in the third and final Test starting at the Brabourne Stadium here Wednesday.
Dhoni said they are focussed on winning the series.

“We are not thinking about the rankings because we don’t want to play under pressure,” Dhoni said on the eve of the match here Tuesday.

“It is important for us to win the series. If we do that, it will reflect in the rankings. We want to play our natural game and stick to our gameplan,” Dhoni said.

India are 1-0 up in the three match-series. The first Test at Ahmedabad ended in a draw while India defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in the second Test at Kanpur.

Dhoni said the wicket at the Brabourne Stadium which will be hosting a Test match after 36 years, will assist the pacers initially.

“The first session will be crucial. That’s the time when the seamers will get some help. We have to maintain the ball and try to get some reverse swing going,” he said.

“The faster bowlers will get some bounce from the track and the slower bowlers will come into play as the game progresses,” he said.

Dhoni said Murali Vijay, who will replace Gautam Gambhir, will open with Virender Sehwag.