"We didn't execute our plans with the bat" - Dhoni blames batsmen after yet another meek surrender

Rohit Sharma

After yet another batting collapse and complete rout in Durban, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has levied all the responsibility on the top order. Chasing a target of 281, the Indian batsmen could only muster 146 on a track that didn’t have much for the bowlers.

“The bowlers did well. They learnt from the last time, but the batsmen played too many shots. I think the shot selection was not right,” Dhoni said in the post-match press conference.

The Indian batsmen, after a shock defeat at Johannesburg, looked timid and threw away their wickets cheaply handing South Africa a series win in the ODIs. Dhoni refused to blame the pitch and said that it was the batsmen who made the wrong choices while chasing a decent total on a good pitch.

“The SA attack is very accurate and they keep bowling in the same areas and that’s what makes them different. Overall, there was not much for the bowlers, not much seam or swing, so that’s why I say they bowled well. The pitch was a nice one and the target was a decent one, and we didn’t execute our plans with the bat.”

However, Dhoni said that his side is mentally very tough and will show their character by bouncing back in the forthcoming games.

“I don’t get too much worried about the losses, how we stand up from here is what I want to see. That will test our character.”