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28 March 2024

Dhoni blames spinners for India's ODI loss in Australia [video]

Australia's Steve Smith hits a six as India's wicketkeeper MS Dhoni looks on during the One Day International cricket match in Perth January 12, 2016. (Reuters)

Published
By Reuters

Captain of India's limited-overs cricket team and skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, said spinners failed to perform their best leading to its defeat against Australia in the opening match of the series in Perth on Tuesday (January 12).

Praising the hosts, Dhoni said that the world champion batted extremely well and that they turned the things around by the end of the match.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sent back Bailey and Glenn Maxwell (six) in successive overs to give India hope.

Indian skipper added the fast bowlers did a great job and it was spinners who could have bowled much better by avoiding easy boundary deliveries.

"If you see the bowling department, the fast bowlers did a very good job. It was spinners that could have bowled better. If they would have just avoided the easy boundary deliveries, okay fair enough the batsman is hitting you for a six over long on or long off, that's always a good shot and with a bit of risk involved but you have to make sure with a field restriction, you don't get hit in areas where we don't have a fielder, so that's something we will have to avoid," said Dhoni.

Talking about Decision Review System (DRS), Dhoni said there should not be umpires' decision justification system but instead there should be umpires taking right decision.

"DRS shouldn't be umpire's decision justification system; it should be giving the right decision like in tennis," said Dhoni.

Dhoni also praised debutant fast bowler Brainder Sran for taking three wickets of David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steve Smith.

Captain Steve Smith and George Bailey struck fluent centuries as Australia chased down a steep 310-run target to win the first one-day international against India by five.

Bailey (112) scored his third ODI hundred and added 242 for the third wicket with his skipper to take the match away from India.

Talking about his new batting stance Bailey said, "I think it gets me in better position and since I've started doing it I have been scoring more runs"

Bailey further added the partnership which resulted in more than 200 runs was very pleasant.

Smith fell for his highest ODI score of 149 with Australia two runs short of victory and the right-hander left the ground shaking his head before watching his team seal victory with four balls to spare.

Opener Rohit Sharma smashed an unbeaten 171 to lift India to 309 for three after the touring side won the toss and chose to bat first in sublime batting conditions at the WACA ground.

India lost Shikhar Dhawan (nine) early but Rohit, the only cricketer with two double centuries in this format, and test captain Virat Kohli (91) laid the platform for a late flourish with a 207-run stand for the second wicket.

India left-arm paceman Brainder Sran (3-56) gave his side a dream start on his debut by dismissing hard-hitting openers Aaron Finch (eight) and David Warner (five) in successive overs to reduce Australia to 21 for two.

Bailey was lucky to survive an appeal for caught behind on the first ball he faced with television replays confirming Bran's delivery brushing his glove on the way through to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

India also missed several opportunities to run the right-hander out when their throws failed to hit the stumps.

Brisbane will host the second match of the five-game series on Friday.