Mohali: Eyebrows were raised when MS Dhoni picked Ashish Nehra to replace R Ashwin for the semifinal against Pakistan. Despite a good show from Nehra, Dhoni said he had misread the wicket and picked three seamers seemed a mistake in hindsight.

"The wicket got slower," Dhoni said after the game. "I thought it would be a normal Mohali wicket which normally doesn't assist spinners so much. So I picked three seamers also since Pakistan play spin well. It wasn't like Chennai where spinners get bounce and I thought three seamers was a safe combination."

Dhoni added he could have always used the part-time bowling of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Sachin Tendulkar.

The India captain said they had to read just their game. Virender Sehwag had given them a quick start, but the wicket started to slow down.

"We lost wickets in the middle overs, and with Pakistan' bowlers bowling in the right areas, it became difficult to rotate freely," Dhoni added.

Pakistan's spinners, Mohammad Hafeez especially, bowled well. We wanted to bat 50 overs. On such wickets you may want to score 300, but the wicket makes you read just your game.

He added he was happy with the score of 260.

India will meet Sri Lanka in Saturday's final. Dhoni said, "Sri Lanka are a good side, they have done well in the tournament. We've been tested more often than not. I think it will be a good final. It will be all about how we perform on that day."

On the pressures of the big match, Dhoni said, "Pressure doesn't help you perform. Before the start of big games, you are nervous and that is good since it helps you perform and be focussed."