DURBAN: Fresh from leading India to only their second Test win on five tours of South Africa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he would welcome playing the decisive Third and Final Test in Cape Town on a lively pitch.

"It will be interesting to see what kind of wicket is prepared," said Dhoni. "The greener the track the better it may be for us."

Dhoni was speaking after India levelled the series with an 87-run win midway through the fourth day of the Second Test at Kingsmead, traditionally the pitch with the most pace and bounce in South Africa -- and a surface which had been expected to aid South Africa's fast bowlers.

Instead of India succumbing to pace, it was the home side who crashed to 131 all out in the first innings, a collapse which South African captain Graeme Smith said cost his team the match.

Dhoni said the Indian bowlers relied on skill rather than express pace.

"They are swing bowlers which means the greener the wicket the better it is for the bowlers."

The win ensured that India would retain their No 1 ranking in Test cricket, irrespective of the result in the final Test.

Second-placed South Africa needed to win the series 3-0 to displace the tourists.

But Dhoni said the ranking was not something which depended on a single victory. "It proves I've got a good side," he said.

"It's a true reflection. We started this process in September 2008 and we can say that in two years we have done well in most of the places where we have played ... since 2008 all those Test matches have had a big impact on the morale and the confidence of the side."

The Indian captain praised the contribution of man-of-the-match VVS Laxman, whose second innings of 96 was the only half-century of the match, and returning left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who had match figures of six for 93 and who also, according to Dhoni, played a big role with his on-field advice to the less experienced bowlers.

"It was a very special innings," Dhoni said of Laxman's knock. "It was one of those wickets where it was quite difficult to convince yourself that you are set. Those 96 runs really mattered for us." -- AFP