Dhoni said, "It was clear lack of application by us when chasing the target."
Indian captain M.S. Dhoni said that his team lacked a crucial
partnership chasing a low score against New Zealand in the opener of the
World T20 at the VCA Stadium here tonight. Speaking to the media after
India’s 47-run defeat, Dhoni felt there were too many soft dismissals
during India’s chase.
“We needed a stand to stay in the game. But it did not happen. The
bowlers did a decent job in containing the Kiwis to a modest score. But I
think it is the batting department which was a bit of a
disappointment,” the Indian captain commented.
“I would definitely feel that the Nagpur pitch is a sporting one.
Generally many feel that only seaming wickets are spinning. May be they
feel that only if the ball hits the head it is a sporting wicket,” he
said with a smile.
“It was clear lack of application by us when chasing the target. This is
what happens when the top order fails, the pressure will be on the
lower order in such situations. You need to push for those singles and
twos to build the innings,” Dhoni observed.
“I don’t believe that we are playing badly against spinners of late. If
you remember the first few Test matches I played, there were no turners
at all. But, yes, it is always a challenge to bat on turning tracks for
there is little room for error,” Dhoni remarked.
The Indian captain said that the big challenge for him and the team is
to stay positive, learn from the mistakes here, how to come back
strongly and show the character.
Dhoni did not subscribe to the view that the next game against Pakistan in Kolkata will be a do-or-die battle.
“I never said that. But any game will be like that and the important
thing is that we have to keen on the margin of victories as we move on,”
he pointed out.
India’s most successful captain also disagreed that the Black Caps read
the pitch better, if the selection of three spinners in their side were
an indication.
“If you look at that way, Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) did not bowl at all. But, yes, they bowled well we must admit,” he said.
“The pitches will be different at different venues and we can’t expect
similar wickets obviously,” he said. “We have to adapt quickly.”
For his part, New Zealand star spinner of the evening, Mitchell Santner,
said that it was a huge morale-booster for his team to start off the
campaign with a big win against a strong team like India.
“We knew it is going to be hard task to beat India in such a low scoring
match. But we stuck to our plans and kept getting wickets regularly to
stay in the game,” Santner said.
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