Indian cricket captain M.S. Dhoni blamed the unpredictable pitch for his team’s abysmal batting performance in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, rejecting suggestions that rash shots led to the stunning collapse.
India was on Tuesday bowled out for 138 in 33.3 overs — its fourth-lowest ODI total in the past five years — by the host team, which chased down the target in under 20 overs.
The five-match series is currently tied 1-1.
“The pitch was next to the wicket we played on last time but it behaved in a completely different way,” Dhoni said referring to the track used for the opening ODI in which India posted a 300-plus score.
“Initially the wicket was slightly on the slower side. Once Virat (Kohli) got out we lost a couple of more wickets very quickly.
“Before the batsmen could assess the wicket, we lost two wickets played on. I thought after that it was too much for batsmen like Irfan (Pathan) and Ashwin to come in and take us out of trouble,” he added.
But his opposite number, Mahela Jayawardene, disagreed with Dhoni insisting that the wicket was not that bad.
“Probably a touch slower, there were quite a few good balls as well. We bowled in good areas, created pressure, maybe couple of bad shots as well but I will take that any day.
“The important thing with the Indian batting line-up is picking up wickets and that's the only way we can control things and that is what we did today,” he said.
Dhoni defended his batsmen's shot selection, refusing to call them rash.
“I don't think they were shots that were really rash. People were looking for singles. If you see Rohit’s ball (the one off which he was dismissed), the shot was on. But he got an inside edge and it went onto the stumps.”
it is not a bad pitch.the bad and worst performance played by team india.escaping is not a sport man quality.this is not pitch fault.this is batmen fault.rohith is worst player.remove him and give chance to others
Yes I think that it was bad batting on the Indian Team's part, pure reckless, careless, rash batting by one of the finest teams in international cricket today. No excuses Dhoni. Thats bad sportsmanship on your part. No doubt the Indian team could easily boast of being a very formidable side but definitely on the wane as has been proved in their previous tours. No team can stay up there for too long as the weaker opponents begin to pick up their socks and start improving on their weaknessess and they keep getting better and better in order to me meet the stiffer competition posed by their stronger opponents. Hats off to the Sri Lankan side for a masterly performance. However consistency is the key to prove that it was not just another flash in the pan victory. Congratulations Sri Lanka. Do not however, allow complacency to creep in with this performance. Remember India is too good a side to take it lying down they are going to come back with all cylinders firing stronger than ever.
India not played well ,for this lot of factors are affecting.don't think negatively about our team,we are the last time worldcup winners ...any how all the best for future matches
Pathetic excuses. Dhoni can win only on flat tracks tailor-made for the FTB's of the team, including himself. A bit of grass on the pitch and they collapse like a pack of cards!
Dhoni's remarks totally uncalled for. Champions failed to read the pitch and also the ball and honestly gifted away their wickets except Gambhir. If there is fault in the pitch, how Gambhir played? Jis ko naachne nahi ayee, woh stage to blame kiya!
Typical high headed Indian view . When you are winning , nothing wrong with the track or ground or wind . When you lost it , everything else is wrong except you and your team . Shame mate , shame.
If the wicket was bad , how come Sri Lanka scored that fast that easily?
Accept your mistakes and correct them .
It was a 50 over game and not a T20 game. The first four top batsman other than Gambhir were out to poor strokes off wide balls.. IN a 50 over game the batsman has to assess the pitch first and play straight for a few overs rather than try horizontal stokes with no feet movement. SEhwag as usual was out as he always does while Kohli tried a T20 stroke to a wide ball without moving his feet. NO EXCUSES of bad pitch. Ashwin's showed how to get behind the ball with his feet moving, but he as gets runout usually due to poor judgment. Gambhir showed that there was nothing wrong with the pitch as he played straight, assessed the pace of the wicket and moved his feet well.
indian batsmens are not played a great game.especially rohit sharma yet not scored a single run in this tour this is not good for india.
Did Sri Lanka bat on a different pitch?
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