Hardik Pandya (left) celebrates with Virat Kohli after dismissing New Zealand batsman Luke Ronchi in Dharamsala yesterday. Pic/PTI

Dharamsala: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni yesterday heaped praise on his bowlers for their superb show but also said that he was surprised at the pitch helping the pacers in his side's emphatic six-wicket win over New Zealand here yesterday.

"Fantastic performance from the fast bowlers. We had no clue it would help the fast bowlers," Dhoni said.

"Hardik (Pandya) exploited the good length, a short of a good length. Umesh is somebody who has been quite quick consistently, he has gone from fit to one of the fittest. Hardik is deceptive, you think he'd bowl 132, but he crosses 135 consistently," Dhoni said.

Meanwhile, Pandya, who was adjudged man of the match in his debut ODI, said, "On a debut, getting the Man of the Match is special. This moment I will cherish in my life. Very happy.

"Good to be back, I was nervous a bit, but I bowled a lot in Australia and the domestic season. I wasn't looking to bowl fast, wanted to bowl with rhythm. On this wicket, I was focusing on a Test match length, a good length," said Hardik who took three wickets for 31 runs.