Adelaide, Feb 14: Despite steering India to a last-ball tie in the triangular series match against Sri Lanka, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today took the blame upon himself saying it was his running out of a well-set Gautam Gambhir that cost his side a win.
Needing 237 for victory, India were coasting along at 174 for four when Gambhir was run out for 91, courtesy a wrong call by Dhoni.
“A wrong call cost us the game. I was wrong in calling Gautam for a single and he got run out,” a visibly disappointed Dhoni said after the match ended in a tie.
Dhoni, however, played another gem of an innings and remained unbeaten on 58 to help India draw the match and register atleast two points.
Needing four runs to win off the last ball, Dhoni hit Lasith Malinga over the extra cover region for three runs as the game ended with scores of both the teams levelled at 236 for nine.
Incidentally, it was Dhoni who bailed India out in the last over in the visitor's last game against Australia at the same ground on Sunday. He had scored a match-winning unbeaten innings of 44.
And today once again Dhoni proved that his calm and composure at the middle is crucial to India's success in limited overs game.
“What's important is to stay there. I looked to stay till the end because while batting at the No 6 position you know there aren't too many batsmen after you,” he said.
“If you have a decent partnership you can stick it out.”
