A downcast skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday blamed his team's shambolic first-session batting collapse and the monumental triple century by his Australian counterpart Michael Clarke for the humiliating innings and 68 runs defeat in the second Test in Sydney.
India found themselves buried under the weight of Australia's 659/4 declared after themselves collapsing to 191 in the first innings.
Ultimately, the team lost by an innings and 68 runs on the fourth day itself to be down 0-2 in the four-match series. The defeat today was also India's sixth cosecutive Test defeat on foreign soil.
"We were down in the first session on the first day. A few batsman got out to good deliveries and after that Clarke and (Ricky) Ponting batted really well. They built a great partnership," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation.
"It was a good track to bat on. Clarke played brilliantly. He got the pace of the wicket. It was difficult to contain him and he was well supported by Ponting and (Michael) Hussey," he added.
Dhoni, however, remained optimistic of a turnaround in the third Test starting January 13 at Perth.
{{/usCountry}}Dhoni, however, remained optimistic of a turnaround in the third Test starting January 13 at Perth.
{{/usCountry}}"Of course we can win there. It's not about what kind of strat we have got, we will look to win in Perth," said Dhoni.
Clarke, also man of the match for his unbeaten triple hundred, was expectedly ecstatic after playing such a crucial role in guiding his team to victory.
"That's a great win on a really flat wicket," declared the 30-year-old Aussie captain.