Chennai, Aug. 31: Indian wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the upcoming tri-series in Malaysia would be a ‘tough’ test. In an interaction with the the media here, the stylish Ranchi star said the Malaysia event would also serve as a launchpad for India’s World Cup preparation.

Terming the washout in Sri Lanka a major disappointment, Dhoni said the forthcoming tournaments would be crucial for Team India as they would be up against some of the best in the world. On the subject of too much experimentation, Dhoni said, "The whole process is to identify the right combination for the World Cup and we should never feel that we did not try out something new. The focus is on the World Cup and we are trying our best to identify what will work well for us."

The ODI debacle in the Caribbean, Dhoni said, wasn’t a major concern. "One-day cricket is all about who plays well on a particular day. Some of the results in the West Indies were very close. I feel we bounced back quite strongly to claim the Test series and we are in good spirits," said Dhoni who added that the return of Sachin Tendulkar was a huge morale booster for the team.

Dhoni agreed that India had not been able to produce the desired results wherever the wickets were slow. "In such wickets, it’s risky for stroke makers as they cannot go for big shots. Yes, we have had some problems. We are trying to get familiar with slow wickets in our camps. It is, however, only a question of adjustment and not a matter of big concern," he said.

He’s not in a hurry to rewrite his own record. "I’m willing to bat anywhere. I am happy to be batting at number seven and look at a quick 30 or 35 that would help my team win. It’s more important than thinking about scoring a 100 every time I go out to bat," Dhoni said.

How does he deal with the demanding task of being a solid ’keeper and a dashing batsman? "One has to separate the two tasks. Failure in one should not affect the other. It’s demanding, but all wicketkeepers must be prepared for it," he signed off.