24 February,2009 03:38 PM IST | | PTI
Under him, India have hardly put a foot wrong but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni refuses to bask in past glory and insists it will be a fresh start against New Zealand in the first Twenty20 International here on Wednesday.
World champions in this slam-bang format, Dhoni's men have an edge over the hosts on paper but the Indian captain believes his teammates would have to start all over again.
"I believe every game is a new game," Dhoni said on the eve of the tour opener. "You have to start from scratch."
Dhoni put the first of the two T20 ties in perspective saying it would not set the tone for the remainder of the series.
"It is not like if you have won the first game it makes a huge difference for the entire tour. It is a 50-day tour and the team that will be victorious will be the one that plays good cricket for a consistent amount of time," Dhoni said.
Dhoni's team does not lack match-winners but the Indian captain said he wanted complete team effort where each and every player would chip in.
