Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar has been instructed to pace his innings and bat through the 50 overs in One-Day Internationals.
With important one-day tournaments, including the Champions Trophy, lined up in the next 40 days, India skipper Sourav Ganguly said it is crucial for Tendulkar to play the sheet anchor's role.
"Yes, the team management has asked Sachin to pace his innings according to the situation of the match. Both Virender Sehwag and Sachin are attacking batsmen, so it is better one of them slows down and tries to play the full 50 overs," Ganguly said before the team's departure for Holland on Tuesday.
Ganguly was happy with the fact that India would be able to tune-up for the September 10-25 Champions Trophy in England in the right manner.
"Though we have not played in Holland, we know we will be playing world champions Australia and Pakistan before taking on England in another three one-day match series (September 1-5). It is a good preparation before a major tournament like the Champions Trophy."
Asked about the wickets in Holland, the stylish left-hander said, "We have not played before in Holland but I am sure it will be an easy paced wicket although the stadium might not be as big as one you see in other cricket-playing nations.
"However, I am sure it will be a very interesting series, especially with Australia and Pakistan in the fray, as these two are the biggest and the most dangerous opponents we are likely to face in the mini World Cup."
The Holland tri-series runs from August 21 to 28.
The skipper said the team needs to pick itself up after the loss in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka recently.
"In fact, nothing went right for us in Sri Lanka. We have to pick ourselves up to perform better in the forthcoming tournaments. We have the potential, the only thing is that we have to play according to a set plan."
Ganguly maintained that Rahul Dravid would continue to double up as wicketkeeper as it works to the team's advantage.
"We have won matches in the past with seven batsmen and Rahul keeping the wickets. Even though Irfan Pathan has come a long way and has been contributing with the bat and Ajit Agarkar is back in the side, I still feel Dravid has to keep wickets so that we can have an additional batsman in the side.
"If you see Australia or South Africa, or for that matter even Sri Lanka, they play seven batsmen and sometime you see two wicketkeepers in the side just to strengthen the batting which is the right tactics in a one-day match," he said.
"In the past, the sixth and the seventh batsman have won us the matches and I am sure even in future we can depend on them. I know we have many wicketkeepers but the issue here is not about the wicketkeepers as such but about the keepers who can deliver as batsman."
"We have picked Dinesh Karthik (the new keeper in place of Parthiv Patel). I am told that he is been scoring heavily in domestic matches and I hope he will get a chance to prove his worth," Ganguly said.
Asked about strategy for the Champions Trophy, Ganguly replied: "We need to lift ourselves in all departments. Get our mindset right and try to tighten up our fielding and bowling."
On whether the team will miss Zaheer Khan, who is sidelined due to injury, he answered in the affirmative but said Zaheer should get himself fit first to serve the country for a longer time.
On Mohammad Kaif's rather indifferent show with the bat in recent times, Ganguly said Kaif has done well in the past.
"Judging his form will not be fair as he goes down the order when there is hardly any assistance from the other end. If he gets 30-40 odd runs and stops another 20-25 on the field, he will have done his duty."
About the players' contract system, the skipper said, "We have given the opinion of the players to the Indian cricket board (BCCI). Let us wait and see."
The team left for Amsterdam without coach John Wright, who will be joining the team there.
The squad: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohamad Kaif, Dinesh Karthik, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, L Balaji, Rohan Gavaskar.
(Gavaskar will not stay on for the Champions Trophy as each country is entitled to name only 14 players).
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