Stay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.
Journalism of Courage
Premium
This is an archive article published on March 16, 2016
ICC World T20: Batting let us down, says MS Dhoni
India's famed batting line-up showed poor skills and application to lose World T20 against New Zealand.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni made a run-a-ball 30 with one six and as many four. (Source:PTI)
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday blamed his side’s famed batting line-up for the shocking loss to New Zealand in their opening match of the ICC World T20, saying they erred in “shot selection”.
(Full Coverage|| Fixtures||Photos)
Title favourites India capitulated to a shocking 47-run defeat against a spirited New Zealand in a low-scoring game to launch their ICC World T20 campaign in the most ignominious manner.
REPORT: New Zealand shock India
After restricting New Zealand 126 for seven, India put up a pathetic batting display to be bundled out 79 in 18.1 overs, their second lowest Twenty20 total, on a turning track at a jam-packed VCA Stadium in Jamtha.
“I think it was a low scoring wicket. I thought we restricted them to a good total, but the batting let us down. The shot selection kept putting pressure on the batsmen coming in,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
WATCH: What went wrong for India, right for New Zealand
It was a horrendous performance from India, ranked world no 1 in the Twenty20 format, as the famed batting line-up showed poor skills and application to lose their fifth successive match against the Kiwis.
“They (New Zealand) bowled well, exploited the conditions, but we lacked adaptability, we could have applied ourselves a little more. The batting let us down,” a disappointed Dhoni said.
Story continues below this ad
PHOTOS: After colourful start, it’s all black in Nagpur
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was mighty pleased with the fighting performance from his side.
“I am very pleased. It was a tough surface. With the bat whatever score was going to be tough, we would have liked to have a few more. We wanted to be aggressive at the start, the format dictates that, we may reflect on that though and try and do it better (on selection),” he said.
“The message to the bowling attack was to be patient and apply pressure and we did that well.”
Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Live Blog