Bengaluru, March 5: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday told media persons that all members of his team, including speedster Ashish Nehra, were fully fit and available for selection for the game against Ireland on Sunday. He felt that it would not be easy to predict whether the M. Chinnaswamy track would turn or not. Recent matches, however, have hinted that it is likely to be another high-scoring game.

Dhoni also lauded Ireland’s match-winner against England Kevin O’Brien Dhoni for an unbelievable innings that he enjoyed watching on television.

Excerpts from the press conference

On the practice session and Ashish Nehra’s fitness

Basically we were trying to irritate each other. One of the teams was stronger than the other while we were playing football. First the other team won the game and then we took revenge winning both volleyball and football and that was the reason to celebrate. On the fitness front, all the vehicles are ready after servicing and overhauling. All vehicles are ready for the race unless some electrical failure happens in the night. We will pick the best eleven cast.

On whether it was better to play weaker teams on bowler-friendly tracks

It is a difficult one to comment on. More often than not you play according to the conditions. Normally in India, wickets are flat. And in most scenarios, you have a turning track. Usually we don’t see seamer-friendly tracks in India. That’s what we can expect in tomorrow’s game also. The wicket is quite damp right now and it is difficult to say whether it will turn or not. But the last couple of games here have been high-scoring ones. Close to 1400 runs were scored in two matches and it says what kind of a wicket it is. Probably it won’t change much and it could still be a high-scoring game.

On whether he prefers to chase or bat first on the Bengaluru track

You will have to wait and watch because that can be a part of our strategy that I won’t like to discuss. But we have seen that in both the games batting under lights has been quite easy compared to the afternoon session where the ball stops a bit and the spinners get a little bit of turn. In the second half it gets quite a bit placid and [the ball] comes on to the bat really well.

On whether the Indian captain was wary of experimenting against weaker sides

If there is anything for the bowler, it will be slightly slower and with a bit of turn. As I said it is very difficult to make seamer-friendly tracks in India. Some of the tracks have a bit more bounce but you see a lot of runs getting scored. It is amazing to see the way the runs have been chased here. I never said there is a weaker side in the World Cup. We have `very fond’ memories of getting beaten by Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup and we won’t make that mistake again. It depends on each particular day and there are individuals in every team who can score at an amazing strike-rate. Maybe 150 or 200 [runs] and that can change the course of the game. The preparation level remains the same and the intensity should remain the same.

On the temptation of playing six batsmen

You should always back your strength and that is the most important part. Tomorrow you won’t feel okay with seven batsmen and then scoring 30 runs less and you feel that there are not enough runs on the board. I feel you can utilise the fifth bowler with Yusuf [Pathan] being part of the side. If they can really rotate amongst themselves and can [take care of] the fifty overs, then we are still more inclined to play with seven batmen and Yusuf and Yuvraj [Singh] can be the fifth bowler.

On Kevin O’Brien’s innings against England

It was an unbelievable innings and he batted really well from the start. He went after the bowlers and it was really impressive to see him change gears at the end. That was needed at that time. As far as strategies are concerned every day is different and accordingly you have to plan based on how a batsman is playing. He got run-out so we will try to get him run-out.

On whether he watched O’Brien’s innings and was tempted to opt for a spin-friendly track

We really enjoyed O’Brien’s innings. We were at a friend’s place for dinner and [his innings] was not against us and we can always be a spectator and enjoy each and every hit. We have to be careful about the pitch and we don’t want to play on a tailor-made wicket. What is important is to play on a normal track. I feel Bangalore is known for tracks which produce high scores. At the end of the day if you try to do a bit more with the track you can end up at the receiving end because you have no control over the toss. I think every place is special and Bangalore is one place where batsmen have the upper hand and I feel it will be the same.

On Yuvraj Singh’s form and the battle for middle-order slots

What is good for the side is that everybody is scoring runs. It is more about the battle of slots with the reason being Yuvraj [Singh] loves batting at No. 4 and Virat [Kohli] has batted really well recently. At the end of the fifth over or close to the 20th over, he is one player who can bat well against the spinners as well as the pacers. His strength is getting in to play a few deliveries and carrying through his innings. If he is forced to bat down the order at No. 6 or 7, he cannot really perform to the potential he has got. At times there are demands of the game and you need to accelerate and you may need to promote Yuvraj at No. 4 and Yusuf at No. 5. It is a tricky situation and depends on how the game progresses. I think it is still a fight for slots. Right now I am quite happy with the way it is going.

On the pacer-spinner combination (3-1 or 2-2)

It is quite a tricky one. If you see the English bowling attack, they have quite a few bowlers who have done well in recent times to play with three seamers. Against England we played 2-2 and some may say it didn’t affect the opposition. For me, the wicket was behaving in a better way under lights and we have to see our strengths - whether the spinners have a few variations up their sleeve to get the batsmen out or the fast bowlers can really do the job for you. It is not a seamer-friendly wicket and as the game progresses, the ball comes nicely on to the bat and there is no extra pace for the fast bowlers.

On Suresh Raina

It depends on a lot of matters. Virat’s current form is quite good. Yusuf Pathan has done well at No. 6 or 7. It is not that Raina has not done well. It is good that everybody is performing.

On whether R Ashwin will play against Ireland

You have to wait till tomorrow.

On deciding between Piyush Chawla and R Ashwin

If there are a lot of left-handers in the opposition, then you may be inclined to play one more off-spinner. Harbhajan and Yusuf are off-spinners and if the opposition is not good at picking the wrong ones, then you are inclined to play Chawla. These are the only two things you can see. Piyush is the one who take the ball away and has the wrong one. Ashwin has done exceptionally well whenever he has played. He has come in before ten overs also. We will pick the one who is more suitable for the particular game.

On reports of fans pelting the West Indies bus and Shakib Al Hasan’s home with stones

I think they missed the Bangladesh bus (Laughs). It is unfortunate but that is how the fans react. You should remember that players are not living at home but their families and friends don’t have anything to do with cricket. You have to control your emotions. When we win a game I don’t go around beating my fans saying that you bashed my house in 2007. You have to back the players when they are not doing well. When you are winning, everybody is with you. The expectation and appreciation and everything is there. Fans of cricket should be with you when you are not doing well. Those are the real fans. Other fans just follow the wins of the team and whenever the teams are winning, they are big fans of cricket.