Mahendra Singh Dhoni Rues India's Poor Batting
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that a target of 322 for a win against the West Indies on a batting pitch at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi was gettable. The world champions lost the first of five ODIs by 124 runs.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni rued his team's batting failure on a good wicket to lose the first one-dayer against the West Indies by 124 runs here on Wednesday but said that the visiting side were a tough team to beat. (Highlights | Scorecard | Pics)
Dhoni said that a target of 322 for a win on a batting pitch at the Nehru Stadium was gettable.
"It was a par score because it was a good wicket to bat on. At the start of the match if we were given 320-odd we should have taken it," Dhoni said after India suffered one of their heaviest defeats at home in the opening ODI of the five-match series.
He said but for some good bowling in the last few overs by the Indians, the West Indies total could have been bigger. (Hoodwinked by Board, Vintage West Indies Rob Team India)
"We bowled well in the last few overs to restrict them," he added.
Asked about the opposition, Dhoni said, "They bat really deep and have six bowlers with a part-timer. They have spinners, quick bowlers and are a balanced side. West Indies are a fantastic side."
He said in modern-day international cricket, players from different countries know each others' strong and weak points because they play together frequently and also due to technology.
"(West Indies captain) Dwayne Bravo and I know each other well. But with technology as well we can spot the weaknesses and do analysis of the opponents easily these days," said Dhoni.
Bravo credited the win to team effort though he offered special praise to Marlon Samuels for his match-winning unbeaten 126.
"It was a great team effort, credit to the entire team, especially to Samuels coming back to the ODI team. Credit to the stand between him and Ramdin and the bowlers as well," he said.
"I hope (Lendl) Simmons is fit for the next match but I'm ready to open for the team. It's well and good till we keep winning."
Man-of-the-Match Samuels expressed happiness for coming good after missing out on cricket for a while.
"After some injuries and surgery I didn't play much, got some form in CPL but didn't play much. I lost my coach also, so I dedicate this to him.
"Ramdin is in good nick for the last year and he's been batting well."