Dhoni wants to win series for Tendulkar, Dravid

Hamilton: Winning the first Test is just the beginning and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni now wants to clinch the three-match series against New Zealand as a gift for senior members Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

Under Dhoni, India ended a 33-year drought on Saturday by winning their first Test here since the eight-wicket victory by the Sunil Gavaskar-led side in 1976.

Another history beckons Dhoni's team which remains on course to record India's first Test series win here since 1968 when Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and his men achieved the feat.

Dhoni said he wants to do it for Tendulkar and Dravid. "One of the first milestones we have achieved in this series is to win a game and take the lead. But now it is important to play the same kind of cricket in the second and third Tests," Dhoni said.

"If we can win the series that will be the best gift the team gives to Sachin and Rahul," said the Indian skipper.

Dwelling on Saturday's 10-wicket victory - his fifth Test win as captain in six matches - Dhoni attributed it to a great team and a set of great players who have contributed consistently with the bat and ball.

"I have got a great team, more than anything else. Each and every individual is doing his job. We enjoy each others' success. We help each other a lot when it comes to cricket, on and off the field.

"We create an environment where every individual feels comfortable. We give the best facilities so that the cricketer can perform and that is what is the asset to the side," Dhoni said at the post-match briefing.

Dhoni said the team had the perfect blend of youth and experience and if they manage to maintain the same standards, they would continue scaling new heights.

"We have played consistent cricket over a period of time and that is what is helping the side. We have a good mixture of guys who have plenty of experience, guys who are youngsters, who want to perform and who are very talented. That is what is helping the side. We take pride in whatever we do. If we continue to that, there will be plenty of good things which will happen to us," Dhoni said.

According to him, India played session by session and their 241-run first innings lead made all the difference in the match.