Mumbai, Sep 17 - Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that Gautam Gambhir's return will boost the team in the Champions Trophy that begins in South Africa from September 22.

Gambhir, who missed the tri-nation series in Sri Lanka due to a groin strain, passed the fitness test before the team's departure for the eight-nation elite tournament.

India had difficulty with their opening combination as Virender Sehwag is also out with a shoulder injury. In the absence of the two regular openers, India tried out Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Dravid as Sachin Tendulkar's partner in Sri Lanka.

'We will miss Sehwag, but Gambhir's return will strengthen the team. He's one player who can make a difference,' Dhoni told reporters here Thursday.

India will be a confident side going into the event, after winning the tri-series in Colombo, their sixth stright ODI series win.

'We don't really want to set a target that we can't reach. So we take every game as just another game,' Doni said.

'We don't think about rankings or ratings. We just enjoy our game.'

In the group stage, India have been placed alongside defending champions Australia, Twenty20 champions Pakistan and West Indies.

'We are in a tough group and so it's important to give our best from the start,' said Dhoni.

'We are well prepared for the tournament and we are looking at things we need to do right.