India's bowlers will find it more difficult than the batsmen to make the switch from the longest to the shortest format of the game, according to captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
"It's [switch] difficult. But, if you see, we had been scoring at five runs per over in the last Test we played (in Mumbai). I don't think it would be too difficult for some of the batsmen, especially Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir," Dhoni said ahead of Wednesday's first Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka.
"They actually bat in the same way. Just that they are a bit over-aggressive in T20 format, you can say.
"Though the bowlers need to roll their arm for only four overs, an enormous effort is involved in the Twenty20 format, as the batsmen go after them from ball one, especially on Indian pitches," he said.
"Most of our players are positive players, looking for strokes and runs. I don't think you need to change your game too much. Of course, a few others need to change according to the requirements.
"Considering we are playing in India, it would be a bit different for the bowlers, as the batsmen would go after them from the very first ball. It looks to be a small game, just four overs, but the amount of effort that's needed, that's what it is all about," he explained.
Dhoni said his team will look to win both the T20 matches.
"We will try our best, it's a very different format. We have to be up to the mark in everything. It's important to be right on target. We will try and win both the T20 games."
Dhoni hopes to keep a 100 per cent win record for India at this new venue, after having won the Test against Australia last year, and again the ODI against the same opponents two months ago.
"We hope to have a 100 per cent strike rate at Nagpur. It will be good for Nagpur and India," he quipped.
Dhoni felt the wicket is good for stroke-play, but also cautioned against being too aggressive.
"Looks like a good track. It's a late evening start. We may see dew come into effect. But by the time dew comes in the game may be over. It won't be that big a factor."
"Overall, it will be good for batting, but in T20 it's very tough to predict. All of a sudden you look to go aggressive and lose quite a few wickets at quick intervals and you are not able to get big runs," he pointed out.
He said that the two newcomers in the Indian team, Ashok Dinda of Bengal and R Ashwin of Tamil Nadu, are bound to benefit by having a close look at what an international game is about by sharing the dressing room with the others.
"It's a different format. Youngsters would get exposure and also get to know what international cricket is all about. You can spot talent and slowly groom them so that they are ready for 50-over game and Test cricket at the same time.
"It's very good for them, a good platform and opportunity if they get a chance. If they don't they can still have a close look at what international cricket is all about."
Dhoni preferred to wait and watch the impact new fielding consultant Michael Young would make on his team.
We should wait and watch what kind of an impact he will make. Wherever he had gone he has done well," he said.
He also said there are benefits in bunching players into two or three in fielding sessions.
"It's always better to have fielding sessions in short groups to have an eye on the techniques of the players so that they don't injure themselves and at the same time are in a good position to implement run-outs or take a good catch," Dhoni said.
