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‘There were at least three boundaries we should have easily stopped’
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on Sunday, hit out at his fielders for conceding easy boundaries at crucial junctures as Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match ODI series with a three-wicket win in Melbourne.
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"It's tough to take. We didn't field well tonight. There were at least three boundaries we should have easily stopped," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Visiting team's bowlers produced another sloppy performance to allow Australia chase down the target of 296 with 1.1 overs still remaining. Virat Kohli hit a run-a-ball 117 en route his 24th ODI century, but Glenn Maxwell put paid to India's hopes of an elusive win with 96 off 83 balls.
‘I couldn't rotate the bowlers’
"(Barinder) Sran didn't have a good day, so it became difficult for himself, and I couldn't rotate the bowlers," the India skipper said.
He was happy with the way his batsmen showed up.
"The batsmen are working hard, but we're always talking about 10-15 extra runs. This was a slightly different wicket, but there was not much the batsmen could have done. I think 295 was a good total.”
‘The bowling attack is largely inexperienced’
"Rishi and Gurkeerat bowled well, so we somewhat covered up for Ashwin's absence. There is some encouragement, it is tough when you lose games but you have to realise the bowling attack is largely inexperienced. It's good to see Ishant bowl well in the middle, but when there's a bit of pressure, the fast bowlers leak runs."