Dhoni says strong reaction from alarmists back home to indian team's flop show in the Caribbean does not affect him as they are still a good side
Dhoni says strong reaction from alarmists back home to indian team's flop show in the Caribbean does not affect him as they are still a good side
Dejected but in no way disgraced. That's the impression India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave to the media after 2007 champions India were sent crashing out of the ICC World T20 yesterday.
"Despite losing, we are still a good side. We did not take the field to lose. We went out there and gave our hundred per cent," said Dhoni after India's five-wicket loss to Lanka.
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When Dhoni was told about the caustic reaction to India's loss back home and how the team was now an object of ridicule, he said: "I am not bothered. These things don't bother me. We love our country more than them (alarmists)."
The issue about his batters' weakness against short, rising deliveries cropped up again and Dhoni dealt with it in honest fashion. "We have some difficulty against the short ball, but we are good players of spin so we are not ashamed.
"We didn't have Virender Sehwag and PK (Praveen Kumar) but this is the best 15 Twenty20 players in our country we had here. The practice and preparation was good but the opposition was good too," he said.
With only a few days separating the end of the Indian Premier League and the World T20, there is a school of thought that the players were jaded. Dhoni refused to agree. "We didn't lose because of the IPL. I still feel fresh. You have to respect your body and be smart," he said while admitting that a gap between both these important tournaments would be good.
Dhoni continued to display correct technique as it were when it came to tackling tough questions: Why did your team lose? "It was a golden opportunity but we lost because Sri Lanka made it difficult for us in the last five overs despite the fact that our batsmen were well set."
You have Gary Kirsten as coach who comes from South Africa where the tracks are quick. How come his inputs have not helped? "He is a good coach, the only coach who doesn't get upset. He has taught us how to play short-pitched bowling. He's been a great help." Captain Cool!
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