MS Dhoni spoke on Tuesday (7th June) before he leads a young squad to Zimbabwe for a tour comprising three ODIs and three T20 internationals.

SOUNDBITE: (English) MS Dhoni, India captain

(talking about a new team and the importance of the toss in Zimbabwe):

"There'll be quite a few players especially in this bilateral series who I'll be playing for the first time so I'll have to quickly assess what their strengths are and, at the same time depending on the team composition, what is the best possible slot or is the best possible manner in which the individual can be utilised so these will be the challenges. Other than that, it's always good. Most of them, they have been part of the set-up for quite some time, they have played India A and a few other big tournaments so I think when it comes to exposure they're all there. The composition looks good - the fast bowlers, spinners, all-rounders, everyone so it looks like a good team and, at the same time, Zimbabwe is one when you win the toss is quite vital. Not many places in the world where you play day games but if have a day game, the toss will be crucial and depending on that you'll have to accordingly adapt and use the conditions to your advantage."

SOUNDBITE: (English) MS Dhoni, India captain

(talking about his role being under scrutiny and his fitness):

"It's more than what you have achieved in your career. The fact that you're representing your country. It's only a brief period where you can actually represent your country so that's the biggest motivation for me and to achieve that I have to keep myself fit. I'm 35 right now and I know the day I am not able to run as fast as I am running right now...I know the guns where it's coming from so I have to keep myself more fit so that fitness is not an issue. Form is something that will keep going up and down and you can't control that but fitness is something that's very important."