Dhoni blames batsmen for loss

India captain MS Dhoni criticised his team's batsmen for their "soft" dismissals after their 47-run loss to New Zealand at the World Twenty20.

The tournament hosts looked in a good position when they reduced New Zealand to 126-7, but they struggled against spin to be bowled out for just 79 in response in Nagpur on Tuesday.
Dhoni top-scored for India with 30, while only Virat Kohli (23) and Ravichandran Ashwin (10) also managed to reach double-figures.

The skipper was unhappy with the way his team batted in their opening encounter of the tournament.
"There were quite a few soft dismissals; there were no partnerships at all," Dhoni said.
"[Partnerships are] what's needed when you're scoring 120 or 125 runs chasing. We all knew the wicket was slightly on the slower side but the good thing is we still restricted them to a good score.
"I think 140 would have been a par score on a wicket like this, so I feel the bowlers did a good job by restricting them to 126.

"I felt it was the batting department that could have done slightly more at the wicket. I think every alternate over we lost one wicket and it becomes more and more difficult.
"Once the top order gets out, the batsman that comes in next - let's talk about the [number] five, six or seven, they have that pressure of one extra wicket falling so it seems as if the cricket has become very difficult.

"But what's important is that is the time to get some kind of partnership. Even if it's not big when it comes to the number of runs scored. It just gives that calmness to the dressing room and the batsman that's coming afterwards."

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