Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today put up a brave face after his side slumped to yet another defeat with a 31-run thrashing in the Twenty20 International in what is turning out to be a disastrous tour of Australia, saying "there is always a tomorrow".
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today put up a brave face after his side slumped to yet another defeat with a 31-run thrashing in the Twenty20 International in what is turning out to be a disastrous tour of Australia, saying "there is always a tomorrow".
After being whitewashed in the four-match Test series, India lost the first Twenty20 International against Australia at the ANZ stadium today, and Dhoni said batting once again let the visitors down in the tour.
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Matthew Wade smashed 72 off just 43 balls.PIC/AFP
"There is always a tomorrow. We started well (with the bat) but could not capitalise. But (Mathew) Wade batted really well (for Australia)," he said after the match. Dhoni conceded that his decision to bowl first after winning the toss backfired. "I feel so, especially the way the wicket behaved in the second innings. It was worst to bat in the second innings," he said when asked whether he erred in letting Australia bat first.
"But at the end of the day it is a sport and the team which plays well will win." Dhoni's counterpart George Bailey, who played his first match for Australia today, and that too as captain, credited the entire team for the emphatic win.
"It was all-round performance from the boys. I am very excited to win the game. Everyone contributed. Our fielding and bowling was outstanding," he said.
"There's a great feeling around Australian cricket at the moment. We hope to continue the same performance in Melbourne."
Wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, who was declared the man-of-the-match for his whirlwind 43-ball 72-run knock, said today's effort was one of the best performances of his short career.
"That's probably the best I have played for quite a while," he said. "(Coach) Mickey Arthur told me yesterday that I would be opening. But no point competing with (David) Warner, he's the best hitter in the game."
He also lauded Australia spin trio of Xavier Doherty, David Hussey and veteran Brad Hogg for making life difficult for the Indians during their run chase.
"(I feel) the spinners really took the game away from India," Wade said.
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