Harare, Jul 11 (PTI): Pleased with his match-winning hundred in the cliffhanger against Zimbabwe here, Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu said observing Mahendra Singh Dhoni handle pressure has helped him learn how to control the game in tough situations.

Rayudu's career-best unbeaten 124-run knock yesterday proved crucial as India held on for a four-run victory over Zimbabwe in the opening ODI here.

"I have been batting in situations like that for the last four-five years in the IPL. Also I have been part of the Indian team for a couple of years now and have spent a lot of time sitting in the change room watching Dhoni bhai bat in similar situations," Rayudu told 'bcci.tv'.

"I keep observing what he does and how he controls the game. There is a lot you can learn just by sitting out and I am happy that whatever I am learning, I am able to implement in the middle," he said.

Rayudu said yesterday's knock would count among his most special knocks. In 30 ODIs so far, he has scored 911 runs at 45.55 with five fifties and two centuries.

"I would rate this as one of my better innings, especially scoring it after the team being five down. The ball was doing a lot at the start. It felt like we were batting in England rather than in Zimbabwe.

"It feels satisfying because we could win the game on the back of it... It is commendable that even though the odds were against us condition wise, we could pull off a win today. I hope we win the toss in the coming matches," he said.