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Dhoni sent Jadeja ahead of Yuvraj and himself but the young all-rounder consumed 35 balls for his 25 in the middle overs to put pressure on his batting partners which ultimately led to India losing the match by three runs to crash out of the tournament. "Sometimes you don't know what would happen. We thought Jadeja could stabilise the innings as well as go after the bowling. He did try but somehow he always found the fielders. It was unfortunate it didn't work for us. We needed somebody to play percentage cricket at that stage."
Dhoni, however, defended his decision to include Jadeja in the playing eleven in place of Pragyan Ojha, as well as his opting to field after winning the toss. "We were looking at a combination in which our batting could be lengthened. We need lower order bats to contribute. Ojha may be a better bowler but Jadeja is an excellent fielder and both bat and bowl well. It also encourages us to include an extra fast bowler," he said. "As for fielding first, we realised that under lights the wicket became better for batting."
The India captain held his batting colleagues responsible for the team's loss and said there cannot be any excuse for their failure to chase down a modest target of 154. "We failed in batting. If the opposition scores 153 and you cannot achieve that on a track like this, I don't think there can be any excuse. You just cannot explain that," Dhoni curtly said. "We lost simply because we did not bat well. I'm rather happy with the performance of the bowlers," he added. Dhoni was candid enough to admit that England bowlers had bounced India out of the match, sending down short-pitch stuff quite consistently.
"They started really well. They looked aggressive and used the bouncers really well. All of a sudden our batsmen could not change their game plan. "They used short deliveries very well bouncers and slow bouncers. That really did the job for them," he said.
Dhoni, however, had words of praise for his bowlers for fine-tuning their tactics in Twenty20 format. "The bowlers have adapted very well to this format. They are now bowling a lot of short balls as well as slower bouncers. Sometimes against quality bowlers it becomes difficult to adapt," said Dhoni.
On his own form, Dhoni admitted big hitting has deserted him for some time and he is working hard to get big shots boom off his bat again. "I am not consistently hitting sixes, I admit it and am working hard at it. But this game is just not about hitting sixes. But hopefully I would be back."
He denied that playing relentless cricket over the last six months had impacted on team performance. "It's demanding but I wouldn't offer it as excuse. I wouldn't blame IPL. But I don't think anybody say that my team or I didn't give our 100 per cent in matches. If they say, that would spoil the party for me. Performing or not performing is a different issue. I'm not worried about it." Dhoni though would not term the Super Eight loss as the worst defeat of his career. He added that his side's poor run in the tournament would not have an adverse impact on the game in the India. "I don't think it would have any impact on India. We lost in the 2007 World Cup and it was the worst defeat for me. But we were back after a couple of series," Dhoni said.
"A loss such as this encourages the team to do well and improve. I take it as a good sign. It tells us that we need to be consistent. We have now lost three games in a row at Lord's and that hurt us."
He also didn't think that his row with the media on Virender Sehwag's injury controversy disturbed the dressing room atmosphere. "We knew there was nothing in it. So it never bothered us or affected the dressing room atmosphere. It's a test of character for us now to bounce back. "It's not the end of road for us. We will prove a few points to West Indies. We also want to gain a consolation win over South Africa in the final game."
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DEAR GUYS ...I BELIEVE DHONI SAAB HAS BECOME THE CAPTAIN OF ADVERTISEMENTS...RATHER FOR CRICKET!!!!I WONDER HOW HE COULD MANAGE THE SCHEDULES FOR EACH.....Baapreeee......ALSO BELIEVE THAT his mind has been blown BLANKLY to rush to his Ad contracts...not even thinking about a min. abt his team plans.MAY GOD BLESS OUR TEAM.....
T20 is for agressive players...if you are not one you shouldn't play in one. Management should be smart enough to know that and pick the team. That last four overs Dhoni played was pathetic.Champions should play like champions. I'm sure Indian team can learn that from the champions this year.
please bcci dnt use india cricket team in ipl.........dnt blme dhoni.. jadeja s mistake
fire all crickters make a law,thsi is request to bcciif cricketers are allowed to do endorsements thsi wl keep happening there are unlimited young talents inour country.dont be stupid
business is one where ppl face profit and loss..and sports is one where wins and losses bind up together to come by..it was this team which won us t20 world cup,but still ppl say its of no use thinking abt past but yes they did play well and give their best,still they have proved that they are humans and they too have nerves to go weak at times if they have to work them continuously..if ppl r ready to blaem this team then i wud advice them to blame themselves to live life without faults...this team can win worlds...let us support our team as we did when this team won the world cup a couple of years ago...after all they represent us,they have the right to fail at times but not always....so come TEAM INDIA..the world is urs...bounce back we are up behind u to support u...but beware....its the support with a warning.
Can anybody tell me what is Dhoni's fault in this loss?Instead of spitting all this rubbish against him think cool, and try to understand that it is his leadership that led Indian Cricket to immense heights. What other cricket icons could not do it for India in last so many years he could achieve it with his team mates in a very short time. It is not just coincidence that he is no 1 in world ranking for such a longtime and selectors in other parts of the world are not fools that they considered him as captain of World Cricket Team. Loosing or winning a match is part of the game. I suppose the entire criticism is only due to the fact that he is coming from a small town and despite all odds brought fame and recognition to the Indian Cricket.
No !!!! Just by saying sorry is not the solution , I think Sehwag should be made captain and dhoni to be rested for atleast 10 mathces then we can access the real siutation of TEAM INDIA.
Over a hundred comments..is this so important?screw dhoni and the selcters but let us think and focus on issues really important for us as a nation man!
CAPTAIN COOL....he is one of the best captain india have ever seen.its not good to curse him for this failure.we have seen certain great captaincies from him and can hope he will do better next time...
Dhoni made a mistake in his captain ship, he was change in batting order in first match of WI. Dhoni is not hit the bat in one down, he always play his order is right decisions.
No use of crying over split milk. The Captain should resignand hang up his boots. He has been totally irresponsible. I wonder if he consulted the senior players. His interest is only USD. I really hope the whole India should boycotts CRICKET.No one should buy cricket players endorsed products. Add company should give others a chance.To much importance is given to this game. Winning an Olympic GOLD MEDAL is the best thing for India and NOT CRICKET. People who cannot attend and receive honours given by the country should have their citizenship removed. Showing disprect to the Nation and Flag has now brought down to earth the people who are given so much importance. When millions of Indians are sufferring, why should some be showered with so much USD. God is Great. I hope a lesson is learnt. I am ver upset and angry.
Sending Jedeja instead of Yuvraj was a not a mistake and it was a huge blunder. Later apologing is not worth and it is la defeat for India. As a captain he must listen to the committee, Coach and as well to his colleague and must not show of his uragent arat
I guess, it is a game and no doubt one wins and one looses. dont forget england had the advantage of home pitch also. I think we should forget what happened and lets cheer them for the next matches, and enjoy the 20-20.we all r proud indians....Hip hip hurray
Including Ishant Sharma,not introducing Harbhajan eary when he he has been in fine nick,not promoting Yousuf Pathan ,your wicket keeping goofups and your slowing the momentum while batting are few of other mistakes. Rohit and Sresh Raina could have been asked to roll over their arms and Electing to chase was another major tactical blunder.
It good on Dhoni's part to take the blame on India failure to enter the semis. What I don't understand why he has to admits promoting Jadeja a was a mistake. It is going to demotivate Jadeja. The yougster is just making a mark in 20/20.
In my opinion Indians were over confidence and that type of thinking put the entire nation in shock. Indian side was unbeaten and it was lack of planning that caused defeat.
Guys! Give him a break.. This is the world of 'Sports'. When he was winning, he was Mister "Cool". Winning and Losing happens... Mistakes happen. Now that he has lost once.."he has attitude problems?" That is not a 'team spirit'. Today ex pplayers are pointing fingers at him. Remember Sunil Gavaskar and his ODI batting prowess? Remember Kapil Dev ..?He neevr improved his batting...he always batted as he wanted.. remember our neta Azhar? Well.. lets not even talk about him... Dhoni is one guy who has been able generate (ofcourse with the help of all the team members) bring all the players into 'one' as a 'team'. Mistakes happen... give him chance.. I for one dont want this to repeat again, but lets stop being 'Stock holders' and lets start supporting our fallan hero when he needs us most! GO team India.
your good man.. All our countrymen must be thinking they could have played batter... lets judge them on long term performances than short term
Dhoni should no have put blame on any individual. Twenty20 is an unpredictable game. The team failed. Y Pathan's score was highest who is not a batsman. Poor fielding should be corrected. Over confidence and feeling of superiority over other team was reflected from all statements of Dhoni before the tournament. In this type of Cricket any thing can happen. It is a game of chances. Let us wait for next cup.
I am from Pakistan. One thing makes me sad both our people or I should say cricket lovers in both countries forget about the past very quick. For Indians don't forget same DHONI gave u the title in 2007 and many more wins in between 2007 - 2009. U can not expect Dhoni, Sachin, Yuvraj to score 100, and same I tell to Pakistanies, don't expect Afridi to hit six on every ball. Keep it calm and welcom ur team when it comes back to India.
In my view this would be the correct team 11 for India : GambhirSehwag/UthappaRohitRainaYuvrajDhoniYusufIrfanHarbhajanZaheerRPSingh
EVERYBODY LISTEN , he is correct 100%. No one is to be blamed but their thinking and their body language. they have thrown this away thinking they are invincible. MS Dhoni has also done that. MS Dhoni if you are reading this take note. I could say that when i heard and saw Dhoni taking while toss "we will put a big score" twice. that statement showed his over confidence in his side. He has not controled his side properly this time. they were in a dream world that they can't be beaten. well there you are you have fallen on your face trying to look up. Over confidence wrong attitude. same thing happened in the last world cup aswell. they got kicked out in first round by bangladesh. Rohit sharma, Zaheer Khan, Suresh Raina,Ishant Sharma all over confident fools. No bouncers bowled like other teams no yorkers. bowling was a joke. some exceptions. they were very complacent once again. over confidence make
Sometimes there are issues more than cricket that decides the results of this game. Batsmen can lose their ability to bat when they are intimidated. One must never put their 100% on any team or will lose their sleep.
The most important thing lacking was the energy. The team looked like a bunch of street kids took out from a famine hit nation deeply deprived of food for months. Any street cricketer would have done the nation proud if they were given a chance yesterday. This is the only sport in which our country is supposedly considered to be worth their money, unfortunately dhoni and co proved that too wrong and it should be re written that a nation of 10 billion cannot produce quality sportsmen in any sport.
Dhoni is 100% responsible for our miserable showing. Over the last couple of years, he has "matured" into a miserable nudger and is selected solely on past batting reputation. He has become a Non-Playing captain and no team can afford that luxury, especially in limited overs tournament.India still could have won inspite of Jadeja, if only Dhoni had hit 1 or 2 fours in the last 3-5 overs. One did not see even an attempt at such strokes and only Yousef was trying to get the runs. After Shewag pulled out, it was just a one man batting team in Yuvraj and we cannot expect one man to succeed always.India was lucky to be in a group without any competition, otherwise we would not entered the super 8 itself. We might have lost even to Bangla, had Yuvraj not bailed us out, after the miserable batting by Dhoni. Dhoni deserves to be brought down to earth, having miserably failing to lead from the front and always blaming others in the team for poor performance.
Jadeja should be ashamed of himself. He knew that India has enough batsmen to score runs and when he is unable to score after few overs he should try for a six and get out rather than blocking balls at the rate of less than 6 runs a over thus putting pressure on the batsmen at the end of the innings. In this format you loose even if you have none of the batsmen out if you cannot score the required runs in 20 overs. The runrate is eminently makable and India has batsmen till the last person. It is appropriate to have Gambir and someone like Schweg in the field. If Gambir got out you send someone like Dhoni or Jadeja. If Schweg gets out you send someone like Raina or Yuvi. Thus one aggressive batsman and another reasonable run getter guarding the wicket and helping the runs go ahead of requirements. To have Gambir and Jadeja there was wrong and Yuvi must have gone ahead. When Yuvi falls Pathan would have been a better choice than Dhoni.