My gamble does not always pay off, says MS Dhoni

India captain MS Dhoni plays one en route his 30-ball 31 in Kanpur yesterday

Kanpur: In his defense for not getting the team over the line in the opening ODI, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni yesterday said his job "of a finisher is a gamble and he has to take the blame when he fails."

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India captain MS Dhoni plays one en route his 30-ball 31 in Kanpur yesterday. Pic/PTI

"Yes, when you bat down the order you have to take the blame. When you have finished a lot many games, people remember more about the games you have not finished," said Dhoni after he failed to complete the job in the final over of the chase with India needing 11 runs.

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Dhoni (31) and Stuart Binny (2) holed out while attempting the big hits in the 50th over bowled by Kagiso Rabada as India ended at 298 for seven in reply to South Africa's record 303 for five at Green Park here.

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Disappointed at not getting the job done, Dhoni said, "It is a gamble (playing the role of a finisher). Sometimes it pays and sometimes it doesn't.

But that's my role in the side. You have to play the big shots and if the ball is coming on, you can use the pace of the bowlers and get away with it. But wickets like these, where the average bounce is low, it becomes difficult to hit."

India needed 90 runs off the last 10 overs with seven wickets in hand.