MS Dhoni reacts after teammate Ravichandran Ashwin was run out by Australia in their one-day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
MELBOURNE: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was scathing in his criticism of his bowlers for bowling too many loose deliveries against Australia as they lost the first match of the one-day series at the MCG on Sunday.
"If you see the game, they bowled too short. Two (bowlers) went for a lot of runs. You do bowl loose deliveries but there are certain so loose that they would always go for a four or a six," Dhoni said after his side's 65-run defeat.
"Today we bowled a lot of these deliveries. Even if it's a big ground, the execution wasn't great and that was the reason they could score 216 runs," he added.
The two bowlers facing Dhoni's ire were Ravinder Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin who leaked runs liberally.
"If you see the game, they bowled too short. Two (bowlers) went for a lot of runs. You do bowl loose deliveries but there are certain so loose that they would always go for a four or a six," Dhoni said after his side's 65-run defeat.
"Today we bowled a lot of these deliveries. Even if it's a big ground, the execution wasn't great and that was the reason they could score 216 runs," he added.
The two bowlers facing Dhoni's ire were Ravinder Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin who leaked runs liberally.
It's a worry. If Jadeja doesn't bowl well, then the stability of the side is affected. You also need a batsman who can bat at number seven. You need to restrict the opponents, you can't let them score too many runs, thinking your batters can chase down any total.
"You have to bowl well for the batters to have a reasonable chance to chase down a total."
Jadjea conceded 41 runs in his 2.4 overs and was hit for three sixes. He also bowled two no-balls and a wide.
"As for Ashwin, it's very difficult. At times bowlers don't bowl well. It has effect on everyone. He is a good bowler, he has done well. But then it's his first series in Australia.
"He is still getting used to it, especially with the white ball and the bounce of the wicket. If you bowl a loose delivery here, more often than not you would be scored off. It could be playing on his mind."
One bowler who earned the skipper's approval was young leg-spinner Rahul Sharma, who picked up Australian opener Mathew Wade's wicket and induced a lot of edges.
"He did a decent job for us. He was someone who was not consistently getting hit. There were a lot of edges which went to places where there were no fielders. The ball went to short fine leg and there wasn't anyone. The ball went to midwicket and there was no fielder. Overall he did a good job for us."
Dhoni said with the failure of the spinners, he would have to look at the options among the resources he has.
"We will have to look at options. If Plan A doesn't work then you have to go with Plan B. We also have to look at our resources. We don't have a fast bowling all-rounder. Irfan has just come in, we have to see if we can have variations.
"If you have bowlers who are bowling below 130kmph, then you have to decide to go with three spinners or three fast bowlers. With pace, there is also opportunity to get scored quickly so you have to be careful."
India's fielding also was ragged in the middle but Dhoni didn't blame his fielders.
"The loose deliveries were a bit too loose. You can put an effort in fielding but if the ball goes to deep midwicket and long on and there are no fielders, you could try your best but it's no help.
"Most of the boundaries went to vacant areas. Of course the fielders also were under pressure from the batsmen. On a big ground it happens, if you put the shot in right area, you could be the best fielder in the world but the batsmen would pick up runs."
Dhoni took a potshot at his batsmen as they could put up just 151 on board in 29-odd overs.
"It's not blaming bowlers. We need to bat as well. There was a moment when we had a good stand going. There's a moment between 10-20 overs, if you don't lose a wicket, you can chase down 200-plus total."
The Australian method of going all-out against the batsmen in Tests was also visible in the first one-day game.
"This ball game is completely different you don't have to play with patience. It means you are positive and looking to score. You are looking to get off strike and if it's in your area, you look to score boundary.
"The positive state of mind is always a help. The white ball also doesn't swing as much so. It's always a different ball game altogether."
The Indian captain believed his strategy was affected due to prolonged rain break which lasted three hours.
"We were expecting rains but not to the extent it happened. The forecast said at most it will be 2-4 millimeters. But here we lost 18 overs It affects your strategy for you were left with only three overs with pacemen (on resumption). As in cricket, weather also doesn't always go your way."
The focus of his team, Dhoni said, should be to now make it to the finals -- probably at the expense of Sri Lanka.
"It's important for us to get into the finals. It's not Australia or Sri Lanka. We first and foremost need to be in the finals and then channelize our energies.
"You have to bowl well for the batters to have a reasonable chance to chase down a total."
Jadjea conceded 41 runs in his 2.4 overs and was hit for three sixes. He also bowled two no-balls and a wide.
"As for Ashwin, it's very difficult. At times bowlers don't bowl well. It has effect on everyone. He is a good bowler, he has done well. But then it's his first series in Australia.
"He is still getting used to it, especially with the white ball and the bounce of the wicket. If you bowl a loose delivery here, more often than not you would be scored off. It could be playing on his mind."
One bowler who earned the skipper's approval was young leg-spinner Rahul Sharma, who picked up Australian opener Mathew Wade's wicket and induced a lot of edges.
"He did a decent job for us. He was someone who was not consistently getting hit. There were a lot of edges which went to places where there were no fielders. The ball went to short fine leg and there wasn't anyone. The ball went to midwicket and there was no fielder. Overall he did a good job for us."
Dhoni said with the failure of the spinners, he would have to look at the options among the resources he has.
"We will have to look at options. If Plan A doesn't work then you have to go with Plan B. We also have to look at our resources. We don't have a fast bowling all-rounder. Irfan has just come in, we have to see if we can have variations.
"If you have bowlers who are bowling below 130kmph, then you have to decide to go with three spinners or three fast bowlers. With pace, there is also opportunity to get scored quickly so you have to be careful."
India's fielding also was ragged in the middle but Dhoni didn't blame his fielders.
"The loose deliveries were a bit too loose. You can put an effort in fielding but if the ball goes to deep midwicket and long on and there are no fielders, you could try your best but it's no help.
"Most of the boundaries went to vacant areas. Of course the fielders also were under pressure from the batsmen. On a big ground it happens, if you put the shot in right area, you could be the best fielder in the world but the batsmen would pick up runs."
Dhoni took a potshot at his batsmen as they could put up just 151 on board in 29-odd overs.
"It's not blaming bowlers. We need to bat as well. There was a moment when we had a good stand going. There's a moment between 10-20 overs, if you don't lose a wicket, you can chase down 200-plus total."
The Australian method of going all-out against the batsmen in Tests was also visible in the first one-day game.
"This ball game is completely different you don't have to play with patience. It means you are positive and looking to score. You are looking to get off strike and if it's in your area, you look to score boundary.
"The positive state of mind is always a help. The white ball also doesn't swing as much so. It's always a different ball game altogether."
The Indian captain believed his strategy was affected due to prolonged rain break which lasted three hours.
"We were expecting rains but not to the extent it happened. The forecast said at most it will be 2-4 millimeters. But here we lost 18 overs It affects your strategy for you were left with only three overs with pacemen (on resumption). As in cricket, weather also doesn't always go your way."
The focus of his team, Dhoni said, should be to now make it to the finals -- probably at the expense of Sri Lanka.
"It's important for us to get into the finals. It's not Australia or Sri Lanka. We first and foremost need to be in the finals and then channelize our energies.
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